“The Diary of a Cricketer’s Wife: Puja Pujara’s Honest Take on Life Beyond the Pitch”

In a rare and heartfelt memoir titled The Diary of a Cricketer’s Wife, Puja Pujara, wife of veteran Indian cricketer Cheteshwar Pujara, delves into the personal side of being married to a national sports icon. The book offers an intimate portrayal of the emotional turbulence and behind-the-scenes challenges that come with being part of India’s cricketing fabric — not from the pitch, but from the stands and the home front.

Why in News?

The memoir, published by HarperCollins India, was released recently and has been drawing attention for its candid tone and rare viewpoint. This comes nearly two years after Cheteshwar Pujara was dropped from India’s Test squad post the 2023 World Test Championship Final loss to Australia — a turning point that sparked Puja’s decision to pen her reflections.

Book Overview

• Title: The Diary of a Cricketer’s Wife
• Author: Puja Pujara
• Publisher: HarperCollins India
• Pages: 318
• Price: ₹425
• Availability: amazon.in

Aim & Objective of the Memoir

• To present the emotional journey of being the partner of a national cricket star.
• To humanize the struggles and sacrifices made by cricketers’ families.
• To highlight how public scrutiny impacts the private lives of sports personalities and their spouses.

Key Themes Covered

• Emotional fallout after Cheteshwar’s exclusion post-WTC Final 2023.
• Daily struggles of handling expectations, media pressure, and public reactions.
• Incidents reflecting personal sacrifices, such as Puja withholding news of Cheteshwar’s father’s health emergency during a critical series.

Background on Cheteshwar Pujara

• Test Career: 103 Tests, 7,195 Runs and Key role in India’s first-ever Test series win in Australia (2018-19).
• Known for patience, temperament, and textbook technique.
• Dropped from Indian team after WTC 2023 at age 35.

Public & Cricketer’s Perspective

• Puja openly shared feelings of anger and disappointment over Cheteshwar’s omission.
• Cheteshwar responded with calmness, saying: “I am at peace, whether I’m selected or not.”

Significance of the Book

• Offers rare insight into the lives of cricket WAGs (wives and girlfriends), who often remain in the background.
• Encourages empathy towards athletes’ families and the silent support system they provide.
• Adds to Indian cricket literature from a fresh, female perspective.