New Delhi: Cheteshwar Pujara said on Saturday that winning the ICC Test Championship would be a much bigger achievement than winning the ODI or T20 International World Cup. India have 360 points in seven Tests and the team topped the ICC Test Championship table for the first time. Pujara said in the TV channel program ‘Inspiration’ that when you become a Test champion, I would say it would be a bigger title than winning the ODI or T20 World Cup. The reason for this is its special format.
He said that if you ask any of the great cricketers of the past or even the current cricketers, they will say that Test cricket is the most challenging format of this game. There is nothing greater when you become the world champion of Test cricket. The Indian team started the ICC World Test Championship with a 2–0 win over the West Indies, beating South Africa and Bangladesh 3–0 and 2–0, respectively. Under the captaincy of Virat Kohli, the team will now take on New Zealand in a two-match Test series starting on 21 February in Wellington.
The 32-year-old right-handed batsman said that most teams have done well under their domestic conditions but when they go abroad, they are always challenged. Especially the Indian team is now doing well abroad. We have now started winning series abroad.
Talking about the Test Championship, any team will have to play well for two consecutive years to reach the finals and they will not only have to win on home ground but also have to perform well abroad. Pujara praised the ICC’s decision to start the World Test Championship, saying it made the traditional format of the game more competitive.