Cheteshwar Pujara reveals what destroyed his white-ball career

Cheteshwar Pujara, known as one of the finest Test batters of his generation, has opened up about the challenges of being labeled solely as a "Test cricket specialist." Cheteshwar Pujara said that he has always prioritized and enjoyed playing Test cricket but revealed that this tag can be limiting.

Pujara built his name with sheer determination and classic technique. Batting at No. 3 for India, he showed great patience and toughness many times in whites, including during the 2018–19 Test series in Australia, where he faced over 1200 balls.

Cheteshwar Pujara rues missing white-ball chances due to “Test Specialist” tag

Even the Saurashtra batter bravely took body blows at the Gabba in 2021 to help India win a historic Test match and the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia.

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Before his heroics, he was dropped in 2014 and 2016 for scoring too slowly, but he bounced back with big performances both at home and away.

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However, Pujara’s journey was never easy. Even with an impressive List-A average of 57, including solid runs in England, the veteran Indian batter never got a chance in the T20I cricket. He quietly carried the “Test specialist” tag and worked hard to earn recognition in the world of cricket.

Cheteshwar Pujara says being tagged a Test Specialist wasn't a blessing

Now, Pujara has finally admitted that being seen only as a Test specialist reduces opportunities in white-ball cricket, despite his potential to perform across formats. He boldly admitted that the tag was negative for him, as he didn’t get many opportunities in the white-ball formats.

Cheteshwar Pujara was quoted as saying by India Today, “Well, I've always enjoyed playing the Test format. But if you're just tagged as a test player, it's not always the right label for someone who has the potential to play other formats. I enjoy Test cricket—it's always been my priority.”

Pujara added, “And yes, being tagged that way means people acknowledge that you're talented enough to play the purest form. But at the same time, it can be limiting and perceived in a negative way. Because once you're tagged as a Test player, you don't get many opportunities with the white ball.”

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Cheteshwar Pujara vows to keep fighting

Meanwhile, Cheteshwar Pujara stressed that his passion for cricket is still going strong. The middle-order batter has stressed that he’s fully committed to the game, staying fit and focused, whether he’s playing at the domestic level or aiming for a return to the top.

Pujara signed off by saying, “Yes, absolutely. As long as I'm playing cricket, it doesn't matter what level I'm at. I love the game, and I'm working hard to maintain my rhythm, fitness, and connection to the sport. So, whenever the opportunity arises—whether at the domestic level or the highest level—I'll be ready.”

Notably, Pujara played only 5 ODIs for India and scored only 51 runs. However, he has represented India in 103 Test matches and scored over 7100 runs with the help of 19 hundreds and 35 fifties. He has been piling up runs in the domestic cricket but is still ignored for the England tour.