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Cheteshwar Pujara has long been the embodiment of quiet strength and unwavering discipline in Indian cricket. Known for letting his bat do the talking, the Test specialist rarely shares much about life beyond the crease. But now, his wife Puja Pabari has opened the doors to the emotional world behind the calm façade, revealing unsettling insights into the internal politics and personal struggles her husband faced during his career.
In her new book, “The Diary of a Cricketer’s Wife”, Puja pens a gripping episode from the 2018-19 Australia tour, a series where Pujara would go on to be India’s hero. But little did fans know, a storm was silently brewing behind the scenes.
Backroom Drama During a Crisis
During the second Test between India Vs Australia in Perth, which was played in December 2018, Pujara was not at his best. He managed just 28 runs, was nursing a hamstring strain, and India lost the match. At the same time, his father was hospitalized in India, a fact he kept to himself, as he always did.
It was during a brief outing from his hotel room that Pujara accidentally overheard a phone conversation that shocked him. An unnamed individual—someone from within the team environment was arguing against Pujara’s selection in the next match, citing fitness issues.
Rather than confronting the situation, Pujara chose silence. “He gave no sign that he had overheard anything,” Puja writes. “He didn’t tell anyone about the incident or about his father’s health.”
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Birthday Confession
The revelation came much later, and unexpectedly. It was Pujara’s birthday, and as the couple relaxed at home, Puja scrolled through Instagram, reading out messages aloud. One message, particularly emotional and affectionate, caught her attention.
“I read it out and remarked how sweet it was. But Cheteshwar’s reaction stunned me,” she recounts. “He wore this expression I had seen before—quiet, secretive, and a bit pitying. I knew he was hiding something.”
After some pressing, Pujara finally opened up. “The guy you’re praising in that post,” he said flatly, “wanted me dropped from the team because of fitness.” Puja was stunned. “Why didn’t you tell me?” she asked. His response? “Not everything deserves a reaction.”
A Glimpse Into the Real Cheteshwar
This episode wasn't a one-off. Puja explains that Pujara rarely discusses team dynamics or gossip. “Throughout our marriage, his description of matches had always been the same three lines: ‘We had practice, a team meeting, and I came back to the room.’ I usually learned more about what happened from the wives of other players,” she admits.
But this moment was different. It showed a glimpse of the emotional toll cricket takes, even on the most composed of players.
Grace Under Pressure
Despite the attempted ousting, Pujara didn’t just hold his place, he turned the series around. His marathon innings in the later Tests were pivotal in India’s first-ever Test series win on Australian soil. He scored 521 runs during that India-Australia test series.
Puja’s book doesn’t just celebrate her husband’s cricketing feats, it humanizes him, portraying a deeply private man who weathered public expectations, internal politics, and personal grief with resilience and without drama.
