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India veteran batter Cheteshwar Pujara believes that he didn't get enough chances to represent India in white ball cricket despite a good performance in List A, County Cricket and domestic T20 cricket. Despite that, the 37-year-old believes that it was not a bad thing because he loves playing Test cricket.
In the exclusive conversation with Sports Tak, legendary batter Cheteshwar Pujara said that he is happy with his cricketing journey so far and revealed how he got the tag of Test cricketer from somewhere, and because of that, he didn't get enough opportunities in white ball cricket.
"I am very happy with the journey so far. There is no regret. But there are many things where I feel that it could have been. Puja (Cheteshwar Pujara's wife) has written in her book that if you look at my record in white ball cricket, my performance in List A, county cricket or domestic T20 cricket has been very good. I got the tag of a Test cricketer somewhere, which is fine. That is not a bad thing because I like to play Test cricket. But because of that, a viewpoint was formed, and I did not get many opportunities in white ball cricket. That is why I feel that if I had got opportunities at the higher level,l i.e. in international cricket, I would have been able to contribute. I have done this in domestic cricket," Pujara told Sports Tak's special show, Vikrant Unfiltered.
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Pujara played a crucial role in India's first-ever Test series win against Australia on their soil in 2018-19. He was the highest run-getter, 521 runs in four matches (7 innings). His contributions included three centuries and a fifty, with a standout 193 in the Sydney Test.
Pujara, who played five ODIs, further stated that representing India in whites is a great pride for him, and if he gets another chance, then he will look to play well for the team.
"Many times in Indian cricket, some players get the tag of Test cricketer and then you do not see them for ODI-T20. But if you talk to coaches or senior players, then everyone says that if you can play Tests, you can also play ODIs. It is an easier format than Test cricket. But I have no regrets. Personally, I got a chance to play Tests for India and that is a matter of great pride. It was a dream for me. Then I went and played in South Africa, Australia, New Zealand and England. So I have no regrets, but if I got a chance, I would have played well" added Pujara.
Cheteshwar Pujara is one of the greats to represent India in the longest format of the game. The veteran batter scored 7195 runs in his 103 Test outings with a highest score of 203*, including 19 hundreds and 35 half-centuries. He last featured for India in the World Test Championship (WTC) 2023 final against Australia.
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