Why did Cheteshwar Pujara say that he would never advise youngsters to focus only on Test cricket? Wait a minute, isn’t this the same Pujara who dedicated his entire career to Test cricket?He feels that times have changed and one must adapt. Pujara's statement that "Test cricket is going nowhere" really hits hard. But he's not entirely wrong either. If you look at it, the trend has definitely changed. These days, selection in the Indian Test team is more often based on IPL or ODI performances.
That’s why someone like Nitish Kumar Reddy, who performed well in the IPL, is now playing Tests, whereas a player like Abhimanyu Easwaran, with a first-class average close to 50, is yet to make his India debut, despite travelling with the national team for a couple of years.We’re not for or against any player here, but Pujara saying, "If you are not a good white-ball player, then the chances of getting into the Test team are very limited," reflects the harsh reality of modern-day cricket.
Pujara on Test cricket
“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,” Pujara said in an interview to India Today.“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. 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," he added.“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,” Pujara concluded.
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