I wouldn’t recommend any of the young players to just focus on the Test format: Cheteshwar Pujara

Cheteshwar Pujara, who announced his retirement from all formats of Indian cricket recently, has revealed that he wouldn’t recommend any young and budding players to just focus on the Test format, as times are changing.

Speaking in an exclusive conversation with India Today, Pujara asserted that the budding cricketers need to give equal priority to both white and red-ball formats in order to get more out of the game. 

“Honestly, I wouldn’t recommend any of the young players to just focus on the Test format because times are changing. The white-ball game is popular, and one needs to adapt to what lies ahead. The future is definitely white-ball cricket alongside Test matches,” Pujara told India Today.

Furthermore, he added that while Test cricket is going to survive, for a young player to get picked in the longest format of the game, he needs to perform well either in the Indian Premier League or in India’s ODI or T20I teams.

“Test cricket is not going anywhere; it is going to survive. But for a young player to get picked in Test matches, you need to perform well either in the IPL or in India’s T20I and ODI squads. If you are not a good white-ball player, then the chances of getting into the Test team are very limited. There might be exceptions, an exceptional player from the Ranji Trophy might be picked, but such cases are rare. You need to be outstanding in the Ranji or Duleep Trophy to make it to the Test squad. The easier route, though, is through white-ball formats,” he added.

“I would recommend a young player to aim to play all three formats. I missed out on the others, and I wouldn’t recommend anyone else to make that choice. They should still aspire to play Test cricket—that’s the ultimate format. If you are seeking respect and want to be regarded as the best cricketer, then you not only need to play, but also excel in red-ball cricket,” he added.

Moreover, Pujara talked about the chances he had missed in the IPL as he was termed as the red-ball player for the whole duration of his career. Though he doesn’t have any major regrets, Pujara stated that he is very content with what has happened in his career.

“To be successful in Tests, I had to sacrifice something in white-ball cricket. I was happy to do that. You mentioned the IPL. I have been a part of it, but I did lose out on contracts because I was tagged as a Test player. When you are representing the country and miss out on something else, you need to be prepared for that,” he noted.

“But for me, there are no regrets. If I had had the opportunity to play all three formats or to be a regular in the IPL, I would certainly have taken it. But I had to choose, and for me, it was Test cricket. I am glad I chose it and I am very content with what has happened in my career,” he stated.

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