The former Indian batter emphasized that although he encourages young players to aim to become all-format cricketers, white-ball specialists are not required to acquire red-ball skills.
“I agree that some white-ball players, particularly batters, are entering the scene without significant red-ball experience, but they don’t need to,” Pujara remarked when asked if the fundamentals of red-ball cricket are still essential for IPL success.
“If you’re looking for someone who wants to specialize in T20 or solely play white-ball cricket, do they really need to master Test cricket?” Pujara, a JioHotstar CTV Hindi expert, shared with reporters during a recent interaction on Wednesday.
“If they opt not to play all three formats, certainly not. As cricket evolves, we will witness players choosing white-ball cricket and others opting for red-ball cricket—that’s how I envision the future.” He continued, “However, if you are committed, I always encourage aspiring young players to engage in all three formats, especially red-ball cricket.” Pujara pointed out successful frontline bowlers from Test cricket who continue to excel in the batter-centric IPL.
“If you examine the bowlers who have thrived in the IPL, like Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Josh Hazlewood, and Kagiso Rabada… (they) have all been outstanding Test cricketers,” he mentioned.
“Their line and length have brought them success in Test cricket, which translates into success in T20 as well. I wouldn’t advise any young cricketer to distance themselves from red-ball cricket.” “However, if a player like Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, who has minimal red-ball experience, is entering the IPL and hitting sixes against all bowlers, that’s perfectly fine,” he added.
Pujara noted that while the BCCI has begun to focus on players specifically for red-ball cricket, he believes that 25-30 players not included in the IPL should be groomed for future opportunities.
“You know you have to select teams for white-ball formats and then assemble a team for red-ball cricket, so it’s crucial to identify 25-30 players in Indian domestic cricket that fit as our red-ball representatives,” he stated.
“Among those, you will have 5-6 multi-format players, but it’s important to identify 25-30 players best suited for the Test format for the Indian team and begin developing them.” “I’m confident that the BCCI has already undertaken this initiative, focusing on players suited for red-ball cricket. They should provide training during the IPL because some players may not be part of the IPL teams and can train at the NCA (Centre of Excellence),” he added.
Pujara continued, “You must select them based on their domestic performances and nurture them for at least a couple of years before eventually allowing them to represent in Test formats.
(With PTI inputs)
