'A test of character, technique and toughness' - Pujara

Cheteshwar Pujara says he expects to be a "different player" when he returns from his stint with defending English county champions Yorkshire. Speaking exclusively to ESPNcricinfo, Pujara said he recognises the next few months will be a test of his "character, technique and toughness".

"They are challenging conditions and as a batsman you have to accept the challenge," he said. "When you score runs in those conditions you get a different confidence. So, technically you have to be correct. You have to be really focused; confidence has to be up to the mark. All the aspects of the game you really have to be very careful when you play in English conditions. So, in this way couple of months in Yorkshire will help me.

"The weather is completely different. So, first of all you need to get adjusted to the weather and the conditions. Whatever I've heard so far is that initially the ball might do more than what it does in the later stages of the season. So, as a batsman it will be challenging and I'm aware about it but when I'm going there I know that I will be tested - it is a test of my character, technique and my toughness. I'll take it as a challenge. Once you succeed in such conditions, it is a different satisfaction as a cricketer."

Pujara signed a deal with Yorkshire after failing to attract a bid at the IPL auction in February. He was released by Kings XI Punjab after an underwhelming season last year that saw him score 125 runs in six innings at a strike rate of 100.8 before being dropped from the playing eleven. Pujara admitted that he while he was a "little bit disappointed" at being ignored by the franchises, his focus was on things he could control.

"As a cricketer I always try and improve my game and try and focus on things which I can do," he said. "I definitely want to play all the formats of this game I'm working on improving my game in ODIs and T20s. I am very confident that I will be able to do so. It's a matter of time and there are some shots that I'm working on in the nets and with more and more practice I think I will be successful."

Not only has Pujara struggled to carve a niche in T20 cricket, his stock has fallen in one-day cricket as well. He was left out of India's 30-man list of probables for the World Cup and hasn't made much of an impression in the five ODIs he has played. With an impressive record in List A cricket, where he has scored 3403 runs at an average of 54.01 in 77 games with 10 centuries, the 27-year-old is confident of changing the mindset that has bracketed him as a long-format specialist.

"If you look at the domestic circuit (List A) records, I've got a very good average as well as a decent strike rate and I've been successful even at India A level," he said. "It's just that I haven't played too many ODIs. So, I can't talk much about international level but if I can do it at the domestic and India A level - when I went to the UK and Australia there were decent fast bowlers against whom I could score runs - I'm very confident that i can do it at the international level. It's a matter of time and I'm very hopeful that my chance will come."

While his one-day ambitions may take longer to realise, Pujara's immediate concern will be to revive his Test career. Having established himself as India's number three, Pujara lost his place in the playing eleven for the final Test of the series against Australia in Sydney after a string of below-par performances. Over eight Test matches in England and Australia, Pujara scored 423 runs at an average of 26.43, going past the half-century mark just twice. While refusing to comment on being dropped, Pujara says he will "prove himself again" when the chance comes.

"In Test matches, my start was really good; there were some phases where i accept that I didn't perform well but it happens," he said. "If you see a cricketer's career, nobody's always successful. You have those up and down phases. If I look at all the series, I did well in South Africa. England was a bad series although I did score in a couple of innings which were really crucial for the team.

"I feel number three is the kind of position where you don't just look at the number of runs you make but you also need to look at the team situation to make sure that the team does not lose another wicket. Once you see through the new ball, the middle-order batsmen get that benefit of playing against the old ball. There is a role which is defined. I do accept that I got starts in Australia but could not convert those starts into a big innings which I'm known for."

Pujara's indifferent run in recent times has meant a wide chasm has developed between his home and away records. While he averages 75.23 in 13 Tests at home, it plummets to 29.4 in 14 away Tests. Pujara insisted that scoring runs for the country was important, not the conditions they were made in.

"When you're representing your nation you need to perform , doesn't matter whether it's in India or overseas," he says. "I had a decent series in South Africa so it is not that I can't score overseas. A couple of series were not up to the mark and I have been working on my game. When I play for India, i need to make sure that the team wins and I contribute to the team's success."

With the retirement of MS Dhoni, India will be begin a new phase as Test team when they play in whites next. Having been a key member of the squad for the last couple of years, he believes the strong bonds built between the players will work in their favour.

"Most of the players have played together for the A team and the Test team is almost the same since the last couple of years," he said. "I just want to focus on the things that I can do for the team at number three and I have always enjoyed playing for the Indian team. I hope we get more success both at home and overseas. We did put up a good show in Australia though we didn't win too many games. Going ahead we would aim to win as many matches as possible."

Pujara is waiting for his visa formalities to be completed in time for him to join Yorkshire for their season opener against Worcestershire starting on April 12 at New Road.