India's 2018-19 tour of Australia will go down is among the greatest moments in Indian cricket history as not only did the national team not win the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, the Virat Kohli-led side created history by becoming the first-ever Indian team to win a Test series in Australia.

Cheteshwar Pujara was the star of the show for India in that series as he made 521 runs in four matches, which included three centuries. He made a three-figure score in India's victory in the Adelaide and Melbourne Tests before a knock of 193 in the rain-hit draw in Sydney.

However, some shocking details have emerged from the aftermath of India's defeat in the second Test at Perth in which made a knock of 24 and 4 respectively. The star batter's wife has revealed that Pujara overheard a telephone conversation about plans to drop him from the playing XI due to fitness issues.

At this point, Cheteshwar was battling a hamstring issue while back home, his father was dealing with a heart condition, which is wife did not tell him about initially, nor did the player tell his teammates about it.

"Cheteshwar made the most of his three-day break and did not step out of his room much. He alternated between resting his afflicted limb and getting his strained hamstring treated. On the lone occasion when he did, he overheard someone engaged in an intense conversation on the telephone, stating that he did not want my husband to play in the coming match because he was unfit. It was an unpleasant incident. But Cheteshwar gave no sign that he had accidentally become privy to the said exchange. Neither did he tell anyone about Papa’s medical condition," wrote Puja Pujara in her memoir 'The Dairy of a Cricketer's Wife.'

"I only learnt of the incident accidentally on Cheteshwar’s birthday after the tour was over. It was around half-past-two in the afternoon, the lights were off and the room was quite dark. Aditi was napping and Cheteshwar and I were reclining on our bed as I scrolled through our social media pages reading out birthday greetings. One message posted on Instagram was particularly effusive and touching. I read it out aloud to Cheteshwar, remarking, ‘Such a sweet gesture—what a lovely message!’ There was complete silence. He did not say a word. Puzzled, I looked up from my phone and caught a most peculiar expression on Cheteshwar’s face—one that was simultaneously secretive and pitying. I had no trouble translating his mind — it was his vintage you’re-so-naïve-and-trusting look I had seen it before and was therefore quite familiar with it," she added.

Puja further stated that Chesthewar was not willing to tell her about the incident and it was a birthday post by a player, which triggered him to finally spill the beans and bring out his frustration over the Indian team's leadership group. At that point, Kohli was the captain of the team while Ravi Shastri was the head coach.

‘What’s wrong,’ I asked. ‘Nothing,’ he said, at his taciturn best. But I was not buying it. I knew quite well that when Cheteshwar went completely quiet, it usually meant he was concealing something. It was a frequent occurrence. I usually learnt of on-field gossip and politics from other players’ wives, never from him. Throughout my marriage, Cheteshwar’s description of his various trips had been limited to three unvarying sentences: ‘We had practice, a team meeting and then I returned to the room.’ Day in and day out, year after year, I had been treated to the same standard lines. He was ready to talk about everything but his professional life. There were times when I would wonder if he even knew what was happening in the world around him," Puja stated.

"But in this instance, I was not about to let him clam up on me. He tried to fend me off, but I finally wore him down. ‘This guy you’re praising,’ commented Cheteshwar laconically, ‘wanted me to be dropped from the team because of fitness issues.’ I gaped at him. ‘Why didn’t you tell me earlier? Why did you go through it alone?’ ‘Such things happen,’ he shrugged, ‘and not everything deserves a reaction. I played and played well and that’s what matters. You don’t need to dwell too much on the incident. But it’s important that you learn not to trust everything that takes place on social medial," she added.

Puja revealed that during the fourth Test in Sydney, while the cricket fraternity lavished praises on him for his stunning at SCG, the batter's mind was focussed on a hospital in Mumbai, where his father was undergoing a heart surgery.

"I was anything but happy when I accompanied Papa to Mumbai, fighting hard to keep my emotions in check. I was leaving my ten- month-old baby behind with my parents and wondering how she would fare without me … By the time we reached the Holy Family hospital in Bandra, Cheteshwar was approaching a century [in final Test at Sydney] … At around 11.30 a.m., India time, Cheteshwar struck a century.

"The staff wheeled Papa to the OT at around four o’clock, to prep him. It was late evening in Australia. Cheteshwar was batting overnight at 130 and the Indian score stood at 303. He called me up to ask after his father. ‘They’ve taken him into the OT,’ I informed. ‘So, there’s nothing much to tell. The doctor has met us and examined Papa. There’s nothing to worry about,’ I added, repeating the doctor’s statement. ‘He won’t even be going under full anaesthesia. Just go to sleep and relax. I’ll update you in the morning'," wrote Puja.

"The next morning, I was up at 3.30 a.m. to inform Cheteshwar that the procedure had been a success. I tried to speak to him in hushed tones, but this ploy was a failure. ‘Go get a double hundred,’ I whispered. Cheteshwar did not get a double ton. He got out caught and bowled by Nathan Lyon for 193 … I was a wee bit disappointed, but perked up when my father-in- law remarked: ‘This is even bigger than a double century. He has done well for his country and the team.’ Coming from a man who was difficult to please, this was a huge compliment!," she added.

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