India’s Test specialist batsman Cheteshwar Pujara will be seen playing IPL 2021. Cheteshwar Pujara was picked by Chennai for his base price of INR 50 lakh. The franchise had said that the reason they picked Pujara was that they wanted to pay respect to him for being a devotee of Test cricket. Pujara had gone unsold in every auction since 2015 and we shall see him again after 8 long years.
Recently, Pujara’s aggressive batting video in the net also went viral. Pujara has been adjusting to his batting stance and techniques to be a fruitful buy for the MS Dhoni-led Chennai side. In an interview with ESPNcricinfo, Pujara talked about what will be his game plan, shots he has added into his arsenal and also talked about India’s wicket-keeper Rishabh Pant. Pujara revealed that he has added ‘the scoop over fine leg against a fast bowler’ in his batting arsenal ahead of the IPL 2021.
Cheteshwar Pujara Said That Rishabh Pant Is Successful Because He Is Fearless
Also, talking about Delhi’s new captain Rishabh Pant and his reverse-scooping Jimmy Anderson in Test cricket, Pujara said, “He has a unique way of looking at things. He is successful because he is fearless. And he has to bat the way he knows – by assessing the situation, and if he thinks he can do that, then why not. He can only be successful backing his own strengths. He is very instinctive. And he has to stick to that. Everyone including us in the dressing room was stunned, but that is something unique about him. If he can pull that off, again and again, there is nothing wrong.”
On being asked whether he can play the reverse scoop shot like Rishabh Pant, Pujara said, “Never! I can’t do that. I can’t do that. Going over the third man by reverse-scooping as a right-hander is tough. Going over fine leg, that I have tried.” Pujara felt sorry for his Test teammate Hanuma Gihari as he went unsold in the auction earlier this year. He tells that Hanuma Vihari should be part of the IPL. The MS Dhoni-led side will kickstart their campaign against last year’s runners-up Delhi at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on April 10.
