NEW DELHI, Sept 8:
IPL auctions are always “tricky” terrain and going unsold does not make Cheteshwar Pujara a frustrated cricketer as he fights the public perception of being a red-ball specialist.
There are players who have had similar strike-rates (110 approx) but got picked by franchises but architect of India’s historic series-win in Australia in 2018-19 has been left high and dry.
Does it hurt or irk him, letting others decide about his credentials as a T20 player?
“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 during an exclusive interview.
“I have seen world class players like Hashim Amla go unsold at the auctions. There have been lot of good T20 players, who have missed out on 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 India’s most important Test batsman alongside skipper Virat Kohli. (PTI)
Does he feel to be a victim of public perception so prevalent in the Indian cricket eco-system?
“I would say yes, it’s a perception being tagged as a Test player and I can’t do much about it,” said the man who set up India’s 2-1 series win in Australia with more than 500 runs in the 2018-19 away series.
“I have always said that I should get opportunities and once I get opportunities, then only I can prove myself as 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.
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