"I definitely want to make a mark in T20 format"

[Tibarn]

Quote

Known for his proficiency in Tests and a prolific scorer in first class cricket, Cheteshwar Pujara has set himself a task – of forcing people to take notice of his prowess in the T20 format too and play in the upcoming Indian Premier League season.

“I definitely want to make a mark in that particular format. I have done well in T20 matches. I played in DY Patil T20 tournament (in Navi Mumbai) and got a hundred and two fifties. I am very confident that I can play well in other formats of the game,” said Pujara after leading Rest of India to a six-wicket victory over new Ranji Trophy champions Gujarat in the Irani Cup match in Mumbai on Tuesday.

Pujara, who has been in top form in first class cricket, has not been seen in the same light in the limited over formats, especially in the slam-bang T20 matches and did not play in the last two IPL editions.

He is now eager to return to the cash-rich and glamorous league this year, saying he’s improved his strike rate and plays more shots in the shortest format of the game.

“I am looking forward to play in IPL. I have prepared well, especially when it comes to T20, I have more number of shots. I did well in the DY Patil T20 trophy. So probably I will play in domestic T20 tournaments (Syed Mustaq Ali Trophy). If I play well, surely there will be an opportunity.

...

Pujara is obsessed with making it in T20s it seems. It looks like he may no longer play county cricket. The only team that would take a flier on Pujara is the Lions, but they didn't even make a bid for him last auction.  

[BeautifulGame]

Of course he would .Just live every cricketer .Why wouldn't you want be part of the biggest festival in sport.

[BCCI]

34 minutes ago, BeautifulGame said:

Of course he would .Just live every cricketer .Why wouldn't you want be part of the biggest festival in sport.

Well said.

[moniker]

Of course he would .Just live every cricketer .Why wouldn't you want be part of the biggest festival in sport.

You wouldn't if you are a rational thinker and clearly realize that you're utter crap in the "festival" and are better off plying your trade in the format you are most comfortable in and gain valuable experience.

His test spot is under threat with batsmen coming in from the domestics and I don't think anyone would risk losing their national contract in favor of an IPL contract. Especially when you have it in yourself to be a world class batsman which brings with it an A-grade national contract and name and popularity to boot.

The money is tempting, yes, but it could end up being just a short term gain if he isn't careful and ends up wrecking his game.

[Sandeep99]

First improve your fitness and then we'll talk.

[renjith]

4 hours ago, moniker said:

You wouldn't if you are a rational thinker and clearly realize that you're utter crap in the "festival" and are better off plying your trade in the format you are most comfortable in and gain valuable experience.

His test spot is under threat with batsmen coming in from the domestics and I don't think anyone would risk losing their national contract in favor of an IPL contract. Especially when you have it in yourself to be a world class batsman which brings with it an A-grade national contract and name and popularity to boot.

The money is tempting, yes, but it could end up being just a short term gain if he isn't careful and ends up wrecking his game.

Don't agree. First of all its a challenge for him to prove in a format which he is not good so far. Whether he will succeed or not is a different matter but I like him taking that challenge and not just being defensive by safe guarding his test spot. He wants both.

 

Second thing is the fame and money in ipl is far too tempting and there is nothing wrong in it.

 

Improved fitness and being more athletic will be a basic requirement. If he identifies that and work towards it plus big hitting skills it will help his career more than playing a county season.

Edited January 25, 2017 by renjith

[Tibarn]

If he really wants to play in T20 leagues, he should try to get a NOC from the BCCI to play in an overseas one. At this stage of his T20 career, saying IPL of bust is set for failure. Teams have already seen what he can/can't do in the IPL. I'm not sure if domestic T20s can elevate him in the eyes of IPL management teams at this point. 

 

If he can play in a lower level T20 tournament, such as the CPL, and do well there, then he has a much better case for IPL selection.

 

This will be difficult, as the BCCI doesn't seem to give NOCs.

[Cricketics]

5 minutes ago, Tibarn said:

If he really wants to play in T20 leagues, he should try to get a NOC from the BCCI to play in an overseas one. At this stage of his T20 career, saying IPL of bust is set for failure. Teams have already seen what he can/can't do in the IPL. I'm not sure if domestic T20s can elevate him in the eyes of IPL management teams at this point. 

 

If he can play in a lower level T20 tournament, such as the CPL, and do well there, then he has a much better case for IPL selection.

 

This will be difficult, as the BCCI doesn't seem to give NOCs.

CPL isn't low level as people in India make it out to be. It is not popular as IPL for sure but tha talent level is really big here. You are talking about some of the best twenty20 players and hence they keep getting picked in IPL and BBL and other leagues and hence CPL players eventually end up making a team like West Indies, two time world t20 champs.

 

CPL is a really popular even for people in this continent who watch it very fondly. USA had high tv ratings last year when it was shown on Watch Espn and also on One World Sports tv channel.

 

The timing sucks for people in India and hence they don't watch much of CPL or give a damn about that league. 

 

I doubt player like Pujara can be easily picked in CPL.

[Tibarn]

5 hours ago, Cricketics said:

CPL isn't low level as people in India make it out to be. It is not popular as IPL for sure but tha talent level is really big here. You are talking about some of the best twenty20 players and hence they keep getting picked in IPL and BBL and other leagues and hence CPL players eventually end up making a team like West Indies, two time world t20 champs.

 

CPL is a really popular even for people in this continent who watch it very fondly. USA had high tv ratings last year when it was shown on Watch Espn and also on One World Sports tv channel.

 

The timing sucks for people in India and hence they don't watch much of CPL or give a damn about that league. 

 

I doubt player like Pujara can be easily picked in CPL.

That's good to here, especially about the ratings. The BCCI should give NOC certificates for some of our players that are out of national contention, such as Yusuf and Robin so they can help that league improve even more. The BBL is also pretty good from what I've seen, although I don't watch much. 

 

I guess Pujara can try the BPL or PSL 

[kira]

10 minutes ago, Tibarn said:

That's good to here, especially about the ratings. The BCCI should give NOC certificates for some of our players that are out of national contention, such as Yusuf and Robin so they can help that league improve even more. The BBL is also pretty good from what I've seen, although I don't watch much. 

 

I guess Pujara can try the BPL or PSL 

Pujara will absolutely own the PSL given the level of competition there I mean if misbah can captain a t20 team in PSL guess what pujara will do 

Edited January 25, 2017 by kira

[gakgupta]

 

19 hours ago, Sandeep99 said:

First improve your fitness and then we'll talk.

LOL....he plays 5 day cricket.....which means he is fit enough.....

 

When people who has 5% of his talent making whole lot of money (Negi, Axar etc....) he surely deserves lot of money....

 

Also this money is put to good use....he runs a cricket academy which is free of cost 

[Sandeep99]

8 hours ago, gakgupta said:

 

LOL....he plays 5 day cricket.....which means he is fit enough.....

 

When people who has 5% of his talent making whole lot of money (Negi, Axar etc....) he surely deserves lot of money....

 

Also this money is put to good use....he runs a cricket academy which is free of cost 

Of course.. he can bat and bat and bat... in tests.. but in T20s he will be expected to field well and run harder.. that will be a problem..

[sandeep]

6 minutes ago, Sandeep99 said:

Of course.. he can bat and bat and bat... in tests.. but in T20s he will be expected to field well and run harder.. that will be a problem..

If Amla can play T20 for proteas, or at least franchises, there is no reason why ChePu can't raise his game and do it also.  

 

Nobody's saying play him for India T20s.  But banjo, support your players!

[amits]

Too much negativity here. I have always believed that a player good in 1 format will be good in all 3 formats. Pujara does deserve to play IPL too and can be considered for ODIs if he does well in IPL. Even last year in Syed Mushtaq T20, Pujara did well and made 80 off 50 balls against J&K in 1 of the matches and played 1-2 more match winning knocks too there

Even in IPL 2014, Pujara played a good knock giving support to Maxwell & Miller, but 2-3 matches later, got dropped :( He deserves another chance in IPL  

[rahulrulezz]

I love pujara as a test cricketer and a person. The guy runs an academy free of cost for the unprevilages ones and gives one on one coaching to these . Tell me one cricketer who does that. 

 

But the reality is, he is as good as Kaifu when it comes to T20. He needs time to settle in and can't hit sixes. He is the inferior version of Rahane in T20s. That doesn't say much considering Rahane is the inferior version of MVijay in T20s 

[gakgupta]

On 26/01/2017 at 5:50 PM, Sandeep99 said:

Of course.. he can bat and bat and bat... in tests.. but in T20s he will be expected to field well and run harder.. that will be a problem..

hang on bro....r u talking about playing for india or IPL ....

 

If it for IPL , pls remember that it is being played by likes of Nehra, Tambe, Gambhir, Balaji (until recently) and more....you will be surprised that he will be fit more than 20% of the IPL players.....

 

You cannot compare him to likes of rahane, kohli or Raina but he has his own place..... 

[chewy]

Pujara struggling in SMA, letting his team down scoring at around 100 SR

[sandeep]

1 hour ago, chewy said:

Pujara struggling in SMA, letting his team down scoring at around 100 SR

Not the worst thing if a top order bats about run a ball, while others  can take risks around him.  Ideally he should be around 125 SR at least.  But his T20 game is a work in progress.  Maybe after playing another 5-10 games he will figure out what his go-to shots are, when to take a bit of risk to find that boundary etc.

[chewy]

now a duck for Puj, going to be another lean IPL auction for him. 

[speedheat]

Hahah tuk tuk in t20 will not work pujari ji