With an eye on IPL, Pujara hopes perception about his batting will change

‘I have added few shots in my game, which is helping me’

Being dubbed as a 'Test specialist' at times can be a bane rather than a boon and no one understands it better than Cheteshwar Pujara, who feels that the perception of people would change soon.

Unsold at the last auction, Pujara, who scored a quickfire half-century in the second innings and at times was more aggressive than skipper Virat Kohli, said that he now has more shots in his armoury which has helped him change his game in limited overs format.

With Indian Premier League auctions slated next Monday, Pujara said, "I am hopeful that the perception (Test player) will change. I have recently got a T20 hundred in a DY Patil tournament and probably I am batting more freely now. I have added few shots in my game, which is helping me.”

"Even in Test format, the way I am striking the ball, the way I am batting, few series, I have changed my game which is helping me in T20 and ODI game. In near future, I think things will change," he seemed confident.

Pujara was seen hooking fast bowler Taskin Ahmed for a six and he said that it was the demand of the situation.

"As I said, we wanted to accelerate and bat for a session. There is a perception that I can't play too many shots. If you look at domestic cricket and overall that I have played, this was one of the occasions that gave me an opportunity to express myself and I did that.

"It was a situation, where I could play freely, take some risks and play my shots. Because when it comes to Test cricket, you still have to put a prize on your wicket and when you are playing in first innings, you don't want to play any rash shot, get out and put the team in trouble. This was an opportunity where we had to bat for one session and even if I get out, we had batsmen who can come in and accelerate."