Hope to play like Kallis: Pujara
KXIP opener wants to take a leaf out of King Kallis’ T20 manual
There is a sense of calmness in the way Cheteshwar Pujara speaks. Every line and every word is precise, much like his batting in Test cricket. His silken drives, his comfortable pulls and his leaves that make him smell leather as he watches the red cherry go back in the ‘keeper’s hands are sights that a Test cricket fan enjoys watching. His character and temperament in the longest format of the game have been compared to one of India’s greats – Rahul Dravid.
Whites aside, the T20 fan is restless. He looks for innovation, he looks for shots that define outrageousness, and more than anything, he looks for entertainment. Pujara is an entertainer in Tests, but in T20s he has got his task cut out. It is a different kind of ‘Test’ for the stylish right hander and he claims he will get better in the shortest format of the game with time. He understands he is not flamboyant, but he is someone who knows to play within the limitations of his game.
In this chat with IPLT20.com, Cheteshwar Pujara spoke about his eagerness to succeed in T20s, his guiding force, Virender Sehwag, and his wish to play like Jacques Kallis in the shortest format of the game.
Here are excerpts from his interview:
Three out of three for the Kings XI Punjab makes for a great reading.
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. We are happy with the way things have gone so far. Three out of three is good and hope we can make five out of five in Dubai and then continue our momentum in India.
What kind of role do you play in the Kings XI Punjab line-up?
We have big-hitters like Virender Sehwag, Glenn Maxwell, David Miller and George 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.
How has it been opening the batting with Virender Sehwag? What have you taken from him regarding batting in T20s?
I speak a lot to Viru paa regarding my game, not just in T20s, but also in the longer format. When I made my debut, he was the one who gave me my Test cap. From that time onwards, 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 really well.
How have you adjusted your game to suit T20s?
You have to be more innovative in this format. If you are playing ODIs, you are still fine playing normal cricketing shots and accelerating later on. But 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.
You were severe on Dale Steyn in the fifth over when you hit him for three boundaries. You even tried to play an innovative shot towards point. Talk us through that over.
When Dale Steyn came to bowl in that particular over, they were trying to get wickets. I knew that if I can get a few boundaries in that over, I can keep the momentum going and apply pressure on the opposition. I knew if I can take him on, we can make good use of the power play. He is a great bowler. I am glad things worked out well for me. To hit him for three boundaries was a good feeling. I enjoyed it.
You have established yourself in Test cricket. Do you think you will be able to crack the T20 code?
I will with time. Nothing can happen overnight. I will get better and better as time progresses because then I will get to know my strengths and weaknesses. I will know the areas I need to improve to get better in the T20 format. With time, I will be a good T20 player as well.
You have grown up learning nuances and finer aspects of playing in Tests and ODIs. How difficult is it to unlearn what you have learnt all these years just to fit into the T20 scheme of things?
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. I cannot be flamboyant like Maxwell or 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.
Whites aside, the T20 fan is restless. He looks for innovation, he looks for shots that define outrageousness, and more than anything, he looks for entertainment. Pujara is an entertainer in Tests, but in T20s he has got his task cut out. It is a different kind of ‘Test’ for the stylish right hander and he claims he will get better in the shortest format of the game with time. He understands he is not flamboyant, but he is someone who knows to play within the limitations of his game.
In this chat with IPLT20.com, Cheteshwar Pujara spoke about his eagerness to succeed in T20s, his guiding force, Virender Sehwag, and his wish to play like Jacques Kallis in the shortest format of the game.
Here are excerpts from his interview:
Three out of three for the Kings XI Punjab makes for a great reading.
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. We are happy with the way things have gone so far. Three out of three is good and hope we can make five out of five in Dubai and then continue our momentum in India.
What kind of role do you play in the Kings XI Punjab line-up?
We have big-hitters like Virender Sehwag, Glenn Maxwell, David Miller and George 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.
How has it been opening the batting with Virender Sehwag? What have you taken from him regarding batting in T20s?
I speak a lot to Viru paa regarding my game, not just in T20s, but also in the longer format. When I made my debut, he was the one who gave me my Test cap. From that time onwards, 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 really well.
How have you adjusted your game to suit T20s?
You have to be more innovative in this format. If you are playing ODIs, you are still fine playing normal cricketing shots and accelerating later on. But 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.
You were severe on Dale Steyn in the fifth over when you hit him for three boundaries. You even tried to play an innovative shot towards point. Talk us through that over.
When Dale Steyn came to bowl in that particular over, they were trying to get wickets. I knew that if I can get a few boundaries in that over, I can keep the momentum going and apply pressure on the opposition. I knew if I can take him on, we can make good use of the power play. He is a great bowler. I am glad things worked out well for me. To hit him for three boundaries was a good feeling. I enjoyed it.
You have established yourself in Test cricket. Do you think you will be able to crack the T20 code?
I will with time. Nothing can happen overnight. I will get better and better as time progresses because then I will get to know my strengths and weaknesses. I will know the areas I need to improve to get better in the T20 format. With time, I will be a good T20 player as well.
You have grown up learning nuances and finer aspects of playing in Tests and ODIs. How difficult is it to unlearn what you have learnt all these years just to fit into the T20 scheme of things?
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. I cannot be flamboyant like Maxwell or 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.
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