'I missed out on others, wouldn’t recommend anyone else to make that choice' - Cheteshwar Pujara urges youngsters to prioritise every format

Cheteshwar Pujara shocked the cricket fraternity on Sunday, August 24, when he announced his retirement from all forms of cricket. The Saurashtra batter finished with 7246 international runs after playing 103 Tests and five ODIs. Despite having a splendid List A average of 57.01 from 127 innings, Pujara wasn't given too many opportunities to prove his mettle in ODI cricket.

His career coincided with T20 cricket's staggering growth in popularity. However, he could only play 30 Indian Premier League (IPL) matches, mostly going unsold in auctions. His last match in the cash-rich league was in the 2014 edition. He did get picked by Chennai Super Kings for IPL 2021 but he failed to get a game and went unsold in the subsequent auction.

Pujara urged youngsters to focus on doing well in all formats, highlighting how players have been picked in Test squads after doing well in the IPL or in white-ball cricket for India. However, the right-handed batter mentioned that doing well in Test matches helps cricketers earn a lot of respect.

“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. 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," Pujara told India Today.

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. 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 excel in red-ball cricket,” he added.

I did lose out on contracts because I was tagged as a Test player: Pujara

Pujara said that he laid emphasis on doing well in red-ball cricket, and that is why he couldn't live up to his potential in limited-over formats. However, the 37-year-old clarified that he doesn't regret the choices he made as a player.

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“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," Pujara said.

“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 added.