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One of the mainstays of India Test team, Cheteswar Pujara reflected back on 0-2 loss in the two-match Test series against New Zealand. Pujara said that one of the uncharacteristic shots in the NZ Test series is his biggest regret.
“For me, the biggest regret is the shot that I played during the second Test where I tried to pull. I don’t usually. I never play that kind of a shot. It happened instinctively. I still run it, I wonder how it happened. Once I am set, I never give my wicket away,” Pujara said speaking to the Indian Express.
Cheteshwar Pujara, who only plays just the longest format, expressed concern over Test cricket getting limited.
On his style of batting and if youngsters will look up to his style of play, Pujara said, “Test matches are getting fewer day by day, there are more white-ball games happening. So they won’t copy my style because my batting approach suits Test cricket (more). It’s not that I cannot change gears, I can play in shorter formats too. Many people have not seen me bat in white-ball cricket on TV. I know I take some time (to get in) but that’s the way I have been taught when growing up.”
Pujara’s strike-rate has been talked about a lot but it doesn’t worries the batsman.
“In the first innings, I took some 200-odd balls to score 60 something but my teammates and I knew how tough the wicket was. It was a final and there was a responsibility on my shoulders.”
“There is nothing wrong with batting slowly if the situation depends. I have to keep my ego behind, the ego of me being an international batsman and facing some bowlers who bowl at 110 mph. If the situation is not easy and I know I can’t play my shots, then I will not. Game changes as per the pitch. Like in New Zealand, where the pitches were more challenging,” he added