I'm not one-format player, Pujara tells IPL franchises

Test cricket specialist Chetweshwar Pujara has expressed that the IPL franchise will soon realise that he is not just one format player.

Chennai: Test cricket specialist Chetweshwar Pujara, who has left no stones unturned in cementing and justifying his position in the Indian Test team, has expressed that the IPL franchise will soon realise that he is not just one format player.

When asked how he feels when he is associated with one format only, Pujara said, “Sometimes it’s difficult to accept things but I am someone who moves on. I am not worried about what people think. However, the perception is changing now. When I started scoring in the T20 format, people have started saying ‘he can do it’. I think IPL franchises will realize that soon."

Recently, the right-hand batsman slammed his first T20 century during Saurashtra's Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy match against Railways. Pujara scored a 61-ball unbeaten 100 which included 14 boundaries and a six.

Interestingly, the 31-year-old Pujara was snubbed by Indian Premier League (IPL) franchises for the fifth straight year.

The Saurashtra batsman also said that his best is yet to come and he wants to play some exceptional knocks in international cricket as he has done in domestic matches.

“My peak is yet to come. I am batting well and enjoying my game. But there have been instances where I have played some exceptional innings in domestic cricket and I want to do that in international cricket as well. Australia was one example but going forward I will like to continue to do that wherever we play Test cricket,” said the talisman batsman.

Currently, Pujara is in Chennai to play TNCA first division league game for Mylapore Recreation Club 'A'. He also played an incredible inning of 163 runs in his maiden appearance in the league.