Former Indian batter Cheteshwar Pujara has opened up about the stark contrast between his disciplined early-morning routine and the late-night party culture that characterised his IPL experience.
Pujara, who played for Kolkata Knight Riders in the 2009-10 season, RCB and PBKS between 2011 and 2014, and was part of the Chennai Super Kings squad that won the 2021 IPL title, reflected on how his childhood training shaped his approach to the tournament’s social calendar.
Pujara’s father had instilled a strict practice discipline from the age of eight, requiring early morning sessions that became ingrained in his daily routine. When IPL matches were followed by post-match celebrations, Pujara found himself navigating a very different schedule from his teammates.
Speaking on JioHotstar’s ‘Cheeky Singles’ show, Pujara described the contrast between his habits and those of other players.
“My dad started coaching me when I was eight. He had taught me to get up early and go for practice every day. In IPL, there are day-night matches, and after matches, there are parties as well. The party starts at 1:30 or 2 AM. I would reach first as I am punctual, but no one would be there, and everyone would come by 3.” Pujara said.
“I would stay for a while and leave. I had the habit of getting up early, so I would be up by 7:30. I went for breakfast, and a lot of players came. I thought I was not the only one who got up early in the morning for breakfast. Then I realised none of them even slept [the whole night] and came directly for breakfast and would sleep after that,” he added.
During his IPL career, Pujara played for KKR in the 2009-10 season, scoring 122 runs across six innings at an average of 30.50 with a strike rate of 106.08. He later joined Chennai Super Kings in 2021, though he did not feature in any matches during that championship-winning season. His observations about the tournament’s lifestyle reflected the broader culture of IPL franchises during that period.
Meeting Shah Rukh Khan and the fanboy moment
Pujara also recalled his experience of meeting Shah Rukh Khan, the co-owner of Kolkata Knight Riders, during his time with the franchise. The former batter acknowledged the unique position of playing for a team owned by a Bollywood icon while maintaining his focus on cricket and the team environment.
“I think every player has a fanboy moment. I started with KKR and SRK was the owner, so when I met him, definitely I had the fanboy moment. But when you think of cricket, you can’t think of being there because he is the owner,” Pujara said.
“You want to be there because of the environment. I wanted to stay there because of that. But you can’t deny the fanboy moment,” he added.
Pujara retired from international cricket in 2025 after a distinguished Test career spanning 103 matches for India. He accumulated 7,195 runs at an average of 43.60, including 19 centuries and 35 fifties.
