Test cricket – the traditional format of the game has its own significance but in the modern generation, most of the youngsters are desperate to make a mark in the limited-overs cricket since the red-ball games are being played less nowadays as compared to white-ball.
However, there is no doubt that every established batsman feels incomplete cricketer without proving himself in the longest format of the game, but in the modern era of the franchise and T20 cricket, the budding cricketers are more likely to follow white-ball cricket than red-ball games.
And even Indian Test specialist Cheteshwar Pujara admitted that the young generation does not want to become next Pujara, although, the veteran feels they admire his game, his batting style is less followed given the fewer number of five-day matches in the world of T20 cricket.
Pujara told The Indian Express, “The young generation does understand my game. Then, 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.”
Noteworthy, he played a big role in India’s historic 2-1 win over Australia in a Test series Down Under in 2018-19, but miserably failed to deliver in the recent two-Test series in New Zealand, as he managed only 100 runs in four innings – which earned him a lot of criticism for consuming too many balls there.
Pujara was recently part of Saurashtra’s historic 2019-2020 Ranji Trophy triumph over two-time champions Bengal in Rajkot – first in their history of Ranji cricket.
(With The Indian Express Inputs)
