IPL 2021: This isn’t Test cricket, this is T20s: Brett Lee looking forward to seeing Cheteshwar Pujara

India’s Test specialist Cheteshwar Pujara is known for his solid technique. Pujara is known to bat time and he can frustrate the opposition bowler’s with his solid defense in the five-day format. However, Cheteshwar Pujara could be like a fish out of water in the shortest format of the game where he will need to play the opposite of his comfort zone.

Pujara was roped in for his base price of INR 50 lakhs by Chennai Super Kings in IPL 2021 auction. The right-hander from Saurashtra will return to the IPL after a long gap of six years as he last played for Kings XI Punjab (now Punjab Kings) back in 2014 against Mumbai Indians.

Pujara was seen hitting the long ball in the practice sessions of CSK and he has changed his bat lift for the T20 format. Thus, it will be interesting to note if CSK will give chances to Cheteshwar Pujara.

“You can look at two different aspects. Firstly, he is a terrific cricketer there is no doubt about his ability, no doubt about his technique or his determination to bat time. But when you look at the other side of things, you’ve also got to think that this isn’t Test cricket, this is T20s. It’s over in 90 minutes, 20 overs,” Lee said on the show ‘T20 Crazy’ on SportsAdda. 

“You’ve got to score runs as quickly as possible. Can he do that under pressure? Maybe he can. What we’ve seen recently in the Australian series is that he loves to bat time so look it’s an interesting call. I’m a big fan of Pujara, I think he has a lot to offer. But let’s see if he can make it in this format,” Lee added. 

Pujara will need to hit the ground running in the upcoming season of the IPL. It will be a different challenge for the right-hander and he will need to play positively. Pujara might get his chances in the top order so that he can make good use of the powerplay overs.

Pujara has played 30 IPL matches in which he has scored 390 runs at an average of 20.53. Chennai will begin their IPL campaign against previous season runners-up Delhi Capitals at the Wankhede Stadium on 10th April.