Will be exciting to have Smith in the same side: Pujara

Cheteshwar Pujara and Steven Smith have played a lot of Test cricket against each other. 

Two of the best red-ball batters of the modern generation are also set to come face to face in the World Test Championship final in June, but for now, the two will be team-mates at Sussex for three County Championship games.

Pujara is captaining Sussex this season and has been in terrific form, having already slammed two centuries in three games. Meanwhile, Smith would be eager to use these three matches to prepare for the WTC final and the Ashes. 

"We have spoken, but most of the time we have played against each other. It is never for the same team, so it will be exciting to have him in the same side. I will try and get his thoughts, try and know him a little better," Pujara told Sussex Cricket.

"We will be playing WTC final, so it will be mixed feelings. On the field, we always have good battles, but off the field we are good friends."

The presence of Pujara and Smith in the dressing room will allow the young players to learn from two modern greats. "He's a great influence to have in the team," Pujara, currently the leading run-scorer in Division Two, said. 

"Will be looking forward to having him in the dressing room and trying to have a chat with him, learn from him, see how he prepares because he has a lot of experience (and) the amount of runs he has scored in Test cricket.

"All of us are looking forward to having him here and sharing his experience. He has a lot of knowledge about the game so it will be nice to have his inputs."