India’s Test team star Cheteshwar Pujara may be an unlikely candidate to set the platform of the Indian Premier League (IPL) on fire, but he has surprisingly played 30 games in the tournament for franchises like Royal Challengers Bangalore, Kings XI Punjab, and Kolkata Knight Riders.
However, his last appearance in IPL came in the 2014 edition where he played 6 games, making 125 runs. Overall in 30 IPL matches, Pujara has made 390 runs with one fifty at an average of 20.52 and a strike-rate of 99.74. He has hit 4 sixes and 50 fours in the tournament.
Ever since then, Pujara has put his name in the auction list but has been snubbed by the franchises, given that he plays for India in just one format, where he has played 77 Tests but has appeared in only 5 ODI matches.
But in an interview with PTI, Pujara said that he wasn’t bothered by the continuous snub from the IPL.
"As a cricketer, I can't have that opinion. Also, I feel that I am someone who will never have such egos because I have seen and known IPL auctions to be tricky," Pujara told PTI.
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"I have seen world-class players like Hashim Amla go unsold at the auctions. There have been a lot of good T20 players, who have missed out on the auction. So I don't have any big ego that they are not picking me. Yes, given a choice I would like to play IPL," said one of the premier Indian batsmen in Test cricket.
Pujara admitted to being a victim of the perception that he can only do well in Tests. In List-A matches, the Saurashtra batsman has 4445 runs in 103 matches with 11 centuries and 29 half-centuries to his name with the best score of 158* and an average of 54.20.
"I would say yes, it's a perception being tagged as a Test player and I can't do much about it. I have always said that I should get opportunities and once I get opportunities, then only I can prove myself as a white-ball cricketer. I have performed well in List A cricket (average of 54), also in domestic T20s (century in Mushtaq Ali Trophy). I have done well in List A games in England,” Pujara said.
In domestic T20s, he has 1356 runs in 64 matches with one century and 7 fifties at a strike rate of 109.35 and an average of 29.47.
"Performance is something which I can control and I will do that. The only thing I can do is wait for my opportunity. I am more than happy to play all formats. As long as I playing the game, I will remain a student of the game as there is no end to what you can learn. But as and when I get an opportunity, then only I can change the perception," said the affable man from Rajkot.
Usually, Pujara spends the time during IPL, playing county cricket in England, but due to the Coronavirus pandemic, this year that has not been possible. The cricketer talked about the impact of COVID-19 on the game.
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"Disappointed, yes, but frustrating, no. I haven't been able to go to the UK not because I didn't want to play or they didn't want me but because of the situation which is the same for all cricketers. I have to understand these are tough times. It is more important to be with family and stay safe and not worry too much about not getting too much match practice. There are people, who have endured way more difficulties," he said.
The 32-year-old will be the key to the Indian team’s success in the upcoming tour to Australia, where they will play their first-ever pink-ball Test overseas.
"I wouldn't say that I feel like I don't have this or I don't have that. I am happy with what I have got. I have won matches for India. Nothing beats the feeling when you win matches for India with millions supporting you. I know that feeling and you can't beat that. My commitment is always above 100 percent. My commitment is to the game and remaining true to it," Pujara said.
(PTI inputs)
