Puja Pabari, wife of cricketer Cheteshwar Pujara, shared some poignant stories that few people know about their journey by way of a new book, The Diary Of A Cricketer's Wife: A Very Unusual Memoir.

The memoir shows Pujara's incredible journey to become India's most dependable Test batter. Pujara is often regarded as India's Rahul Dravid, i.e., mentally composed and tough when in whites. However, Pujara has not been in the Test squad for the last couple of years.

While Indian fans celebrated all his memorable performances, particularly during the memorable series win in Australia in 2018–19, few were aware of the psychological struggles he was dealing with before the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Puja revealed that just prior to the series, there was some internal chatter about whether or not to drop Pujara from the squad. Although he wasn't supposed to know, he overheard a phone call, and it rattled him and hurt him tremendously. 

She said that it took some time for Pujara to talk about it. So, they decided not to name who suggested dropping him, because they wanted the story and not to create any fuss. 

Puja Pabari stated NDTV:

“The idea to write that incident was not to describe it. The idea was how he kept his calm and didn't get affected, showing courage and resilience. The one intention wasn't to malign anyone; that is not the intention. The intention was to inspire everybody. I don't think he or anyone knows about it. The purpose is just a 2-line thing and not what has been highlighted.”

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Puja and Pujara just addressed the episode publicly, explaining that their goal was not to blame, but flat out explain Pujaras mental toughness and composure during one of the hardest times in his career.

Pujara made a deliberate choice not to mention any names—clearly a strategic move to maintain professionalism and avoid creating unnecessary distractions within the team. He acknowledged the disappointment he felt, but rather than dwelling on setbacks, he shifted his focus to his primary objective: representing India with distinction.

His commitment during that Melbourne Test was a true masterclass in resilience. Even with a minor injury, he not only took to the field but delivered a century when it mattered most. That performance didn’t just boost the team’s morale; it played a pivotal role in securing a memorable victory for India. Honestly, moments like these are what set leaders apart—he didn’t just talk about dedication, he lived it.

Puajara commented:

“The person's name is not there in the book for a reason. If we wanted to expose someone... I don't want to dwell too much into it. That was our first ever victory on Australian soil. There was a bit of a niggle. I ended up scoring a hundred, and the team won that match. Everything settled down. My thought process was to create history with Team India.”

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Adding another layer to the situation, Pujara revealed that his father was unwell during the series. Despite personal stress, he maintained his composure, knowing his wife Puja was capably managing things at home. This ability to compartmentalize personal and professional challenges is what high performers do. He kept his priorities straight—supporting the team under Virat Kohli’s leadership and contributing to a historic series win. It’s a textbook example of professionalism under pressure, and a reminder that leadership isn’t just about individual achievement but helping the team deliver results, no matter the circumstances.

Pujara ended saying:

 “There were a lot of things at stake; my father wasn't well. There were a lot of thoughts when I was going to play the Sydney Test, but at the same time, I knew Puja was looking after my father. So, I was relieved.”