Pujara says row over his strike rate is unfair, got full backing of team
NEW DELHI: Cheteshwar Pujara finds the constant fuss over his strike rate a tad unfair and wants to clarify once and for all that he has got full backing of the team management which understands the “importance” of his style of play.
I n t he age of s l am- bang cricket, Pujara brings delight to the purists of the game by batting on and on without worrying too much about the strike-rate. But to appreciate someone who epitomises patience in Test cricket is may be asking for too much from the “millennials”.
Last week, the soft-spoken 32-year-old from Rajkot found himself at the receiving end again on social media as he laboured his way to 66 off 237 balls in the Ranji Trophy final against Bengal. To his credit, he overcame fever and throat infection to share a gamechanging stand with Arpit Vasavada, helping Saurashtra to their maiden title on the basis of first innings lead.
Whether it is playing for Saurashtra or India, Pujara is used to constant chatter around his strike-rate.
“I don’t think there is too much talk (inside the team camp). In media, it is described differently but the team management has been backing me on this completely. There is no pressure from the captain, coach or anyone else,” Pujara, who is currently getting much-needed family time due to the COVID-19 outbreak, told PTI.
“I just want to clarify that when it comes to strike rate people start pointing towards team management’s take on it but there is no pressure on me at all. The team management understands my style of play and its importance.”