Perception about my batting will change, says Pujara
India's middle-order backbone Cheteshwar Pujara is not known to score at a frenetic pace. The Saurashtra batsman believes that the perception will change as soon as he has added a few more shots to his repertoire. It is important to put a price on one's wicket in Test cricket, he says.
Pujara is not part of India's limited-overs squads, and, in fact, does not have an IPL contract. Although in Test matches there are phases when he scores at a very brisk rate.scrores
Against New Zealand in Hyderabad, he went from 60 to 100 in 34 balls. In some of his other first-class innings, he has scored in really quick bursts. His bursts, though, happen in between the innings, after he's set himself in. After scoring yet another quick 50 in India's second innings against Bangladesh in the one-off Test match, Pujara told ESPNCricinfo that he believes the perception about his batting will change soon.
"We wanted to accelerate, we just wanted to bat for a session. We wanted to get as many as possible that is why I was playing freely. There is a perception that I can't play many shots. But if you look at the domestic cricket and overall, the way I have played, this was one of the occasions that gave me an opportunity to express myself and I did that. I am very hopeful that perception will go soon. I have got a T20 hundred in a DY Patil Tournament. Probably I am batting freely, I have added a few shots to my game, which is helping me. Even in Test format, the way I am striking the ball, the way I have been batting in the last few series, I have changed my game, which is helping me in T20 and one-day game. In near future I think things will change," said Pujara
Pujara believes that he has to employ different approaches when he plays different formats of the game as each kind of game requires a different kind of batting temperament.
"The approach was quite different as there was a situation where I could play freely. I could take some risks and play my shots. Because when it comes to Test cricket, you still have to put a price on your wicket and when you are playing in first innings, you don't want to play any rash shot and get out and put the team in trouble. This was an opportunity where we just had to bat for one session, and even if I got out, we had batsmen who could come in and accelerate," Pujara said.