On Thursday as India takes on New Zealand for first test match of the series, the fight is going to be easy, as for the first time in many years the team will take up a Test match sans VVS Laxman and Rahul Dravid, who retired in the aftermath of the 0-8 debacle overseas last season.

However, Cheteshwar Pujara offers a ray of hope. As we know Pujara was the obvious choice after Dravid's retirement in March. Now that Laxman too surprisingly retired ahead of the Hyderabad Test, the Saurashtra middle-order batsman feels the youngsters need to live up to the challenge.

"Not only us, all the cricket lovers will miss them. Both VVS and Dravid have set benchmarks. It's a huge inspiration for the youngsters in the side. If we can at least try and emulate it, it would really help. Obviously the youngsters in the side would have to take more responsibility now. It's difficult to replace them straightway. But they have been our motivation and now it's time to live up," he said on Tuesday.

Pujara along with Suresh Raina and Subramaniam Badrinath are in contention for the two vacant slots but the Saurashtra lad, known for his temperament and technique best-suited for the Test scheme of things, said he was not looking too far ahead.

"I'll look to perform and contribute to India's winning cause. I know that's the outcome if I win matches for India," Pujara said.

We hope you succeed in making big Pujara!

Source: TNN