Former Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) pacer Kane Richardson fondly recalled Cheteshwar Pujara’s crucial innings while paying tribute to the former Indian batter. Richardson highlighted how Pujara anchored the Punjab Kings’ (then Kings XI Punjab) successful chase of 192 against the Rajasthan Royals in IPL 2014’s seventh match.
Pujara remained unbeaten on 40 from 38 deliveries, hitting three boundaries, while Glenn Maxwell and David Miller played explosive cameos of 89 (45) and 51* (19) to guide the team to victory. Speaking to cricket.com.au’s YouTube channel, Richardson said:
“I actually remember playing him in the IPL. He had a really small IPL career, but he opened the batting one year for Punjab at Sharjah, and he anchored them to a win. He made 40 off like 45, and it took a Maxwell masterclass to get them over the line, but he tried to play short-form cricket.”
“But I think his strength was just what he was in the Test format. So, that’s as close as what I got to bowling to Pujara, and I got a good taste of it that day. I couldn’t get through him.”
“Bowlers dread facing him”- Richardson hails Pujara’s ‘old-school’ batting
Kane Richardson also praised Cheteshwar Pujara’s outstanding Test career, noting that bowlers dread facing a player with such classic, traditional batting skills. He added:
“Well, definitely not in the long format cricket (hitting sixes). It’s, I mean, everyone wants to play every format now, and there are no problems with upskilling and trying to get as good as you can across all three formats, but there is a beauty and romance in someone who does this old school way.”
“And whilst it may not be the best for the people in the stands and broadcasters, I think there’s definitely a role for it. Like Test cricket, it’s not gotten any shorter; it’s still five days. So, like we said, if there’s a role to play for someone like that, they make everyone around them better. Opposition hates playing against them like hats off. So yeah, great career [for] Pujara. Enjoy, well-earned feet up,” he added.
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