'Form is temporary but class is permanent': Cheteshwar Pujara gracefully shuts down critics

India batter Cheteshwar Pujara firmly believes in the adage ‘form is temporary but class is permanent. The saying came true as the right-hand batter scored a vital half-century to keep the team’s hopes alive in the second Test match against South Africa. Apart from Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane also struck a crucial fifty and added a 111-run stand with Pujara. The duo’s efforts helped India set a target of 240 for South Africa to chase in the fourth innings.

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India’s number three was asked if he and his partner were under pressure to score runs after Sunil Gavaskar predicted that this could be their last chance. Pujara though replied confidently and said the team has always backed them and they were very confident during their stay at the crease.

"We are confident, and there is a lot of backing from team management. We have always been learning from Sunny bhai, and whenever I have spoken to him, he has always been supportive," Pujara said at the end of the day's play.

He further opined that there will be questions asked whenever a batsman is not performing. However, he admitted that he and Rahane are working hard and have the support of the team. “Yes, there are times when you are going through the bad form, there will be questions, but we are confident players. Myself and Ajinkya and we know we are working hard on our game and there’s a saying form is temporary but class in permanent and it applies here.

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“We have done well in the past and management has shown a lot of faith in us, and it has paid for sure and once a batter is back in form, you keep scoring runs and keep going up and up,” he said.