Cheteshwar Pujara is well accustomed to the type of responsibility he will face during his time at champions Yorkshire.
The India batsman, signed until the end of May as a late replacement for veteran Pakistan international Younus Khan, will don the White Rose for the first time in the LV= County Championship clash with newly-promoted Worcestershire at New Road from tomorrow.
Pujara’s arrival has boosted a Tykes outfit that has been depleted by England call-ups, with five of the six players in the West Indies batsmen, and skipper Andrew Gale’s further one-match suspension.
However, despite being under pressure to perform, Pujara is at ease with the role of providing top-order runs from number three.
The 27-year-old, who averages 47.11 in Tests and 57.01 in first-class cricket, said: “The state team I play for back home, Saurashtra, I have always been a player that the team looks up to.
. @cheteshwar1 has his turn to speak to the written media. #yccc pic.twitter.com/SpWh2KxpqK
— Callum Dent (@cdent31) April 10, 2015
“In the India team I bat at number three, a key position where you have to play with a lot of responsibility. I will try and do the same here.”
When Younus pulled out of an agreement with the club, who he represented in 2007, Yorkshire turned to Pujara to fill the void after he failed to secure an Indian Premier League contract.
A classy stroke-maker, Pujara has registered six centuries in 27 Tests for India and has experienced English conditions with his country and during a short spell with Division Two outfit Derbyshire towards the latter stages of last season.
His ability to bat for long periods was one of the main reasons the Tykes opted to secure his services, according to first-team coach Jason Gillespie.
On the qualities of Pujara, the former Australia paceman said: “He is a very experienced cricketer, both internationally and domestically.
New signing @cheteshwar1 having his first net at #Headingley#YCCCpic.twitter.com/0R6LN4i7DV
— Yorkshire CCC (@Yorkshireccc) April 10, 2015
“If you see his record, he converts. He scores not just hundreds but big, big hundreds. That is what you want. You want batsmen to bat long and score lots of runs. It is as simple as that.
“He has a good technique that will hold him in good stead in early season in England. He has got the game to adapt to every situation.
“He has got some experience in English conditions, which is great, and I am just looking forward to see him go out there and enjoy himself.”
Pujara will follow in the footsteps of compatriots Sachin Tendulkar and Yuvraj Singh when he makes his Yorkshire debut at New Road tomorrow.
Pujara, unveiled at Headingley yesterday, said: “When I heard that I was the third Indian cricketer to play for Yorkshire, it was a great feeling and an honour for me.
Headingley looking in good nick. New floodlights look great #yccc pic.twitter.com/n6i3wZ67Hw
— Callum Dent (@cdent31) April 10, 2015
“When I was playing for Derbyshire last season, I saw the kind of cricket Yorkshire played and they won the County Championship as well.
“I never had a second thought when I had the option to play for Yorkshire.”
Asked whether he had spoken to the 'Little Master' about representing the county, Pujara replied: “No, I didn’t get a chance to speak to him yet. But, when I have a chance, I will speak to him about his experiences.”
Yorkshire have built up strong relationships with their overseas players in recent years, with Kane Williamson and Aaron Finch returning to the club this term, and Pujara is no different.
Having had just one net session at Yorkshire, he said: “I would love to come back. It depends. If I am available, I would love to come back.”