You can’t bat for social media, I am not batting for entertainment: Cheteshwar Pujara on dealing with the trolls

Cheteshwar Pujara, the bedrock of India’s Test batting, didn’t mince any words in saying that his aim is to win his team matches and not to entertain someone. The 32-year-old isn’t flashy and likes to bide his time in the middle, an approach that has paid dividends. However, it has also led to users on social media, trolling him brutally. However, that hardly has fazed and ruffled Pujara.

Pujara understands that he has certain limitations and he tries to make the most of his skills rather than going for something ambitious. He also doesn’t prefer to read into the social media as he reckons that most of the users there don’t have much understanding of Test cricket.

“You can’t bat for social media. Many of them don’t understand my game and Test cricket because they see more white-ball cricket. Yaar yeh toh bahut bore kar raha hai, kitna ball khel raha hai (He is boring us, how many balls does he need),” Pujara was quoted as saying in an exclusive interview with The Indian Express.

I’m not someone who can hit sixes, says Cheteshwar Pujara  

Pujara recently was a part of Saurashtra’s victorious run in the 2019-20 edition of the Ranji Trophy. In the final, he churned out 66 vital runs against a potent Bengal attack. En route the game, he also had to face some physical hassles. In the first day, he retired hurt on five, complaining of fever and throat infection. Then he developed a back injury and didn’t take the field on the third day.

Pujara said that he alters his game as per the demands of the situation and he has respect for cricket lovers. “Please understand one thing, my aim is not to entertain someone, my aim is to win for my team, be it for India or Saurashtra.

Somedays I bat fast, somedays I bat slowly. I respect cricket lovers and crowd, I’m not someone who can hit sixes. I try to avoid social media, I don’t follow social media when I am playing. I am not batting for entertainment,” he added.

Pujara was also a part of India’s tour of New Zealand where the visitors lost the Test series 0-2. He was one of the two Indian batters, along with Mayank Agarwal, to breach the 100-run mark. Pujara ended with 100 runs at an average of 25 with a top score of 54.