Indian batsman Cheteshwar Pujara in an interview to Circle of Cricket, discussed at length about mental toughness, IPL auctions and how spiritual guru helped him while talking on ‘Mind Matters’.
He also stressed on the fact that mind needs to be happy in order to be happy in life and negative thoughts and self doubts can be dealt with yoga. Read on to find details.
Pujara emphasized the importance of yoga. Also how he would go to his mother and cry in his younger days when he couldn’t handle pressure.
He said, “Once you are in a negative zone, everything around you becomes negative. I do yoga and try meditation, I do my prayers every day which helps me to remain in a positive mindset.
“There was a time when I felt I cannot handle the pressure. When I had issues in my younger days, I used to go to my mother and cried in front of her saying that I had a lot of pressure and nervousness and I don’t to want play cricket. But now I know how to handle the pressure.”
Pujara who averages 46.6 in tests, underlined the fact that it is necessary to be happy in order to lead a happy life, and doubts always create confusion.
While sharing his experience, he told, “Mind matters because if you don’t have a clear head you are always in doubt. If you are in a happy state of mind you are having a happy life.”
Having lost his mother at the tender age of 17, Pujara added that faith has been a driving force that has kept him going over the years.
He states, “I have a spiritual guru and when I lost my mother, he sad it is tough to accept the loss. He said you need to have faith and faith is something that has kept me going.
“Over a period of time I realized that I can use that word (faith) in my game and in my life also and having faith in God is the most important thing for me.”
Ongoing unsold in IPL and being picked by CSK, here is what he had to say. He ensured to work on things which are under his control.
Recalling how it was, he explained, “It was tough, it’s never easy to be left out and to be unsold in the IPL. It hurt me.”
“But that is something I can’t control. After a point, I realize I will do things that I can control. I kept on working to get better towards the shorter format.”
On being asked whether international pressure does play a role on players or not, Pujara said certainly there is pressure but at the same time, one must focus on the process and not think of the result.
“I have seen many domestic players finding it difficult to handle pressure when they go to international level. I have seen the best of the players consulting sports psychologists and they always enhance your performance.
“I have consulted them many times and it has helped me. When you deal with the mental aspect you always have questions and to clear those doubts and I saw a different perspective after consulting sports psychologist. So focus on the process and don’t worry about the outcome.”
VVS Laxman was impressed by this approach of Pujara to handle pressure.
Cheteshwar Pujara was purchased by CSK in an auction earlier this year.
