India batsman Cheteshwar Pujara has said his centuries in the recent Duleep Trophy, particularly the unbeaten knock of 256, were what he needed to tune up for the Tests against New Zealand, which get underway from September 22. Pujaras performances came shortly after India had dropped him from a Test during the preceding tour of West Indies, to accommodate five bowlers and Rohit Sharma in the XI.Pujara scored 166, 31 and 256 not out for India Blue in the Duleep Trophy, following a disappointing tour of West Indies. The double-century came in the final of the Duleep Trophy and led India Blue to a 355-run win over India Red. The unbeaten 256 was also his 10th first-class double-century, putting him on par with Vijay Hazare, Sunil Gavaskar and Rahul Dravid, among Indian batsmen with the most 200-plus scores. Only Vijay Merchant has more: 11.I would agree to the fact that the Duleep Trophy double-century was a sort of an innings that I needed before the start of a Test series, Pujara told the BCCI website. Actually the 166 that I scored in my first game of the tournament was the turning point. That innings brought in me the confidence. Having said that, I feel I was batting well in West Indies as well, especially in the second game where I scored 46 runs and got run out the moment I was about to accelerate.I did get disappointed but I never let my confidence down. I knew it was just a matter of time. I am in a positive frame of mind after the Duleep Trophy. Those runs will definitely help me in the upcoming series against New Zealand. I dont think I need to worry much about my batting now. I just need to stay focused.Pujara had scored 16 and 46 in the first two Tests against West Indies, before being dropped for the St Lucia Test. He was picked for the fourth Test but rain and a wet outfield meant India did not bat in the draw. At the toss in St Lucia, India captain Virat Kohli had indicated that Pujaras rate of scoring could have been a factor in his exclusion. Indias coach Anil Kumble, however, was emphatic in his support for Pujara, saying the Saurashtra batsman was important for Indias Test success. Kumble admitted that it was not good that a sword is always hanging on his head.Pujara said it was difficult to score big runs all the time, but when such occasions occurred, he backed himself to return to the nets and motivate himself to rediscover his form.It is not easy to score big runs all the time and there will be times when you score a handy 70 or 80 that would be helpful for the team, he said. Those knocks might not get appreciated but from the teams perspective you have done your job. I want to score runs that can help the teams cause and if I have done that, I will be satisfied.When I dont score big, I do get disappointed. At the same time, I have to be realistic to assess the situation and conditions. I need to tell myself that, Look you have tried your best but the runs didnt come. In that case I will always go back to nets and work on my game, improve and tell myself that the next game I am going to get a big one.The ability to score big runs, Pujara said, had fascinated him from his time as a young player, and he began working on it as early as his Under-14 days. Two of his seven Test hundreds are double-centuries and he has scored three triple-centuries in first-class cricket, one of only two Indian players to do so.I always had the habit of scoring big runs right from my Under-14 days. From U-14, I continued that habit in my U-19 game and then displayed the same in Ranji Trophy as well, scoring triple-centuries, he said. Once I start scoring big runs, I get my natural game back and I am more confident. I have an improved concentration, I am more focused and I see the ball better. I feel once I score big runs or reach a 200-run-mark, I have a different feeling. Scoring runs and scoring big has always fascinated me since childhood.When I am on a big score, it is there to see that the team has a big score on the board. We as a team believe that if we have an opportunity to put close to 600 runs on the board, then you never allow the opposition to comeback in the game. That is the prime reason why there is stress on converting your hundreds into big hundreds. Personally, I dont like to get out cheaply and for that matter nobody does. But if I have just reached a hundred, I am in a zone where I understand I can play freely and what pace I have to accelerate.Pujara also said he enjoyed the pressure that came with batting at No. 3, as it played to his strength of a tight technique.I wouldnt say I would look to cement a particular batting position. I obviously love batting at number three and I have batted at the top order right from the beginning in first-class cricket. I have lot of experience playing at No.3, he said. Even for the Indian team, I have scored most runs batting at that position. I love batting there because it puts me under a bit of pressure but helps me be responsible. My strength is my technique. If you are technically correct, you can overcome challenges and situations when the ball is moving or turning. When you want to lay a foundation for a big score, the top order has to succeed. I do feel I fit in a good role for that purpose. Custom College Jerseys Free Shipping .500 on the season. The Jets are now 0-5-1 in the second game of back-to-backs. The game started the same way the Vancouver game started the night before, with the Jets taking the first two penalties of the game and killing off the first, but the Oilers getting on the board first, scoring on the second man-advantage. Custom UCLA Bruins Jerseys . Their experience showed Tuesday as the No. 10 Badgers blunted a Saint Louis surge to win 63-57 and advance to face West Virginia in Wednesdays finals of the Cancun Challenge. http://www.customjerseyscollege.com/ . LOUIS -- Cardinals cleanup hitter Allen Craig says hes recovered from a foot injury and ready to be put on St. Cheap Custom College Jerseys .com) - Manchester City midfielder David Silva is expected to miss the next four weeks because of a calf problem. Custom College Jerseys China . He just needed to be his best twisting, turning acrobatic self. "I didnt need to be anybody else, I just needed to be myself and be aggressive," said Burks, who scored a career-high 34 points to spark the Utah Jazz to a 118-103 victory over the Denver Nuggets on Monday night. Shivani Kataria, only the third Indian woman swimmer to qualify for the Olympics, aspires to finish high in the 200m freestyle event at the Rio Games, starting next month.I have been selected for Rio, and my aim is to finish high in 200m freestyle, she told PTI.Shivani hopes that her participation at Rio would inspire other girls to take up the sport and pursue it professionally.I realised I was the first female swimmer since 2004 to represent India at the Olympics. I want to use this opportunity to motivate and encourage more girls to take up the sport and pursue it professionally.India has a lot of talent and I believe that any female swimmers success would motivate other girls who might be afraid to try swimming, she said.On her training stint in Phuket, Shivani said she learnt a number of new techniques and trained alongside swimmers from around the world.I trained hard in Phuket, used to swim triple sessions some times. I had dropped out of school just to focus on the Olympics. I also learnt many new techniques and got to train with so many swimmers from around the world, which was an amazing experience, she said.On how the Olympic qualification has changed her as a student of the game to a competitor, Shivani said, Being only the third (female) swimmer in history to represent India at the Olympics carries its own expectations, and I want to grow as a swimmer.ddddddddddddShivani said her long-term goal is to qualify for the 2020 Tokyo Games and win a medal there.The long-term goal is to qualify for Tokyo 2020 and go one step further and win an Olympic medal there. My short term goals are to get good results in all my upcoming tournaments including the Nationals and World Championships. I am also looking forward to qualifying for the 2018 Commonwealth and Asian Games.Shivani said she faced no difficulty in choosing swimming as a career as her parents always supported her.I was just a normal kid before I started swimming. There was no difficulty in becoming a swimmer as my parents supported me in every way. When I was six years old, I use to go for summer camp in Baba Gang Nath Swimming Centre near my house and slowly my interest in swimming increased.Now since I am going to Rio, I am going to get the chance to see my idol Katie Ledecky live in action which is a dream come true. ' ' '