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The Lions' Den : Kings XI Punjab : IPL 2014 Official thread

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IPL 7: I can’t be flamboyant, but I can be classical like Kallis, says Cheteshwar Pujara http://indianexpress.com/article/sports/cricket/i-cant-be-flamboyant-but-i-can-be-classical-like-kallis-pujara/ Still finding his feet in the Twenty20 format, Cheteshwar Pujara knows that he cannot be “flamboyant” like some of his Kings XI Punjab teammates but says he is hoping to carve a niche by emulating South African legend Jacques Kallis. Pujara, who opens the innings for Kings XI Punjab, has proven himself as a Test performer but is still adjusting to the much faster T20 cricket.

“I cannot be flamboyant like (Glenn) Maxwell or (David) Miller, but I can always be a Jacques Kallis who plays proper cricketing shots, but can still score runs at a good strike rate. This is what I am looking for,” Pujara said.
“The basics of cricket remain the same, irrespective of the format you play. You have to hit the cricket ball at the end of the day. I know how to play the cricket ball to the best of my abilities.
“My way of hitting may be classical where you try and time the ball. In the T20 format, you are required to hit it harder and find the gaps whenever possible. It is just about fine-tuning your game, rather than making changes in the way you play,” he said.
Kings XI Punjab have been in brilliant form this season, winning all three of the games they have played so far, with Maxwell and Miller in great form.
“Even before the IPL started, we always felt we had a very good team. On paper, the team was excellent but we had to execute things on the field. Three out of three is good and hope we can make five on five in Dubai and then continue in India,” he said.
“We have big-hitters like Virender Sehwag, Glenn Maxwell, David Miller and Bailey, who can hit the ball long. My role in the team is to stick at one end. I intend to rotate the strike and hit the boundaries and go for the big shots as and when it is possible,” Pujara added.
Sehwag inputs Asked about his experience of opening the batting with Sehwag, Pujara said,
“I speak a lot to Viru paa regarding my game, not just in this format, but also in the longer format. When I made my debut, he was the one who handed me my Test cap.
“From then on, he has been guiding me, not just in Tests, but he also tells me how to go about my game in ODIs and T20Is. I chat with him about the IPL and he has been guiding me well.”
On whether he is adjusting well to the T20s, Pujara said the process has been tough but smooth so far. “…
]in T20s, you have to be innovative and you don’t get as much time to get settled and then start playing your shots. In my case with the Kings XI Punjab, I am opening the innings and I have to be ready to hit the ball from ball-one or the very first over.
“The job becomes a bit difficult, but with time and few more matches, I will get better. I am getting better with each passing day. Today’s innings (35 off 32 balls) was really good and I am really satisfied with the way I played. With big-hitters in the side, I can play my role well and play within my limitations,” he said after the Hyderabad game.
Pujara said it will take him some time to completely be at ease with the shortest format of the game.
“Nothing can happen overnight. I will get better and better as time progresses because then I will get to know my strengths and weaknesses. With time, I will be a good T20 player as well,” he said.
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We are waiting for a special knock from Virender Sehwag, says Balaji http://indianexpress.com/article/sports/cricket/ipl-7-we-are-waiting-for-a-special-knock-from-virender-sehwag-says-balaji/

“We are waiting for a special knock from Viru (Sehwag). So far we have been overrun by Maxwell. But it’s amazing to have Maxwell in the side. He is a great talent but we also should not forget the contributions of (David) Miller, (Cheteshwar) Pujara. It is very important for us to believe in ourselves as a unit,” Balaji told PTI from Abu Dhabi.
“Definitely he (Sehwag) has got starts but we are longing for a big innings from him. He is such a player who can change the complexion of the game on his own and if he and Maxwell can fire together it will be a treat to watch. I feel it (a big knock) is not far away and it will come over the course of the tournament,” he said.
“Definitely a great start to the season. There is no mantra as such we just tried to keep it simple. We did nothing extraordinary but of course we have got extraordinary players to deliver, especially Maxwell and some of the big hitters.
“As a group we know what are the demands to be fulfilled on a particular day. Definitely, we have got the momentum and how we take forward this momentum, is very important,” he said.
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Tha.....RCB supporter tha.......IPL 6 ke kuch din baad hi main ne officially announce kiya ki main ab se :kxip: ko support karne waala hoon......so.....phir se........bahut pyaar se.....:finger:
tha...........KXIP supporter tha...........bolega tu kuch dino baad.dekhte ja tujhe kaise yahan se phootata hu. bade hi pyaar se :whack: :whack: :whack:
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