Cheteshwar Pujara last featured in the Indian Premier League during the 2014 edition when the 32-year-old represented Royal Challengers Bangalore. Since then the cash-rich franchises have shied away from the auction chip carrying the Saurashtra batsman’s name on it.

In an exclusive interview with PTI, Pujara addressed not being part of the world’s biggest domestic T20 league and spoke about the public perception of his twenty over numbers.

The first thing one pictures when Cheteshwar Pujara comes into mind is a saintly man wearing a white jersey and tiring the Australian bowlers by not touching the ball. This image of Pujara has built over the years of his glorious test cricket career which includes his famous 222 stand with Virat Kohli in South Africa, the 202 versus Australia in Ranchi and 206* against a dominating English side in 2012. However, his five day heroics have overshadowed his limited over capabilities since half a decade and Pujara’s memories of India’s blue jersey and the all the IPL cheer have faded.

When asked about the way it must irk him to see other people decide his credentials in t20 cricket, Pujara said,“As a cricketer, I can’t have that opinion. Also I feel that I am someone who will never have such egos because I have seen and known IPL auctions to be tricky.”

“I have seen world class players like Hashim Amla go unsold at the auctions. There have been lot of good T20 players, who have missed out on auction. So I don’t have any big ego that they are not picking me. Yes, given a choice I would like to play IPL.”

Cheteshwar was India’s hero when the team crushed the Aussies in their own land during the Border-Gavaskar trophy 2018. The former RCB player had scored more than 500 runs in the four-match series that India won 2-1. When asked about being the victim of public perception that sees him only as a test veteran, Pujara couldn’t stop putting forward his statistics in domestic games.

“I would say yes, it’s a perception being tagged as a Test player and I can’t do much about it.I have always said that I should get opportunities and once I get opportunities, then only I can prove myself as white ball cricketer. I have performed well in List A cricket (average of 54), also in domestic T20s (century in Mushtaq Ali Trophy). I have done well in List A games in England.”

“Performance is something which I can control and I will do that. Only thing I can do is wait for my opportunity. I am more than happy to play all formats. As long as I playing the game, I will remain a student of the game as there is no end to what you can learn. But as and when I get an opportunity, then only I can change the perception,” he said.

When asked if it was frustrating to not be a part of the league most of his teammates enjoy playing in, the Rajkot based cricketer added,“Disappointed ‘Yes’ but frustrating ‘No’. I haven’t been able to go to UK not because I didn’t want to play or they didn’t want me but because of the situation which is same for all cricketers.”

“I have to understand these are tough times. It is more important to be with family and stay safe and not worry too much about not getting too much match practice. There are people, who have endured way more difficulties. I wouldn’t say that I feel like I don’t have this or I don’t have that. I am happy with what I have got.”