"I need more power in my shots", admits Cheteshwar Pujara after scratchy innings in IPL

Cheteshwar Pujara’s painful innings could have cost Kings XI Punjab the match against Rajasthan Royals, had it not been for the blitz by Maxwell and Miller

In the Maxwell-Miller show against Rajasthan Royals, Kings XI Punjab’s Cheteshwar Pujara was fairly criticised for his ugly-looking and slow innings in a tough chase, and has admitted he needs to work on his batting in T20s.

“I am not satisfied with my innings against Rajasthan Royals. Although I played the role assigned by the team, I didn’t score as many runs as I should have,” Pujara told Times of India on Monday.

Chasing 192, Pujara’s innings of 40 off 38 deliveries was in stark contrast to match-winning efforts of his team-mates, Glenn Maxwell (89 off 45) and David Miller (51 off 19). It was the 10th slowest unbeaten innings by an opener in IPL, with the 9 slower innings coming in chases of below-150 targets.

Unable to clear the infield, Pujara also failed to find the gaps, and admitted he needed more power behind his shots. “I want to stick to my game. But I need more power so that I can hit the odd boundaries when they are needed. I can’t be as flamboyant as Viru (Sehwag), Maxwell or Miller. I am not a match-winner in high-scoring matches. If I get more strength to hit boundaries, I can at least contribute more to a chase,” he said.

Though T20 seems to be a tough nut to crack for India’s dependable No.3 in Tests, Pujara is confident about 50-over cricket. “In ODIs, you need to construct an innings. Although playing T20s can help maintain the pace, there is no reason why playing technically correct can’t work.”

A regular in whites for Team India, Pujara’s correct technique and assuredness on the crease has increased the calls for his inclusion in the ODI side, keeping in mind the 2015 World Cup which will be played in Australia and New Zealand, requiring technical stability at the top of the order. Pujara admits that there’s a plan in place for him in the ODI setup.

“It’s always good to be in the playing XI. The Indian team management has a plan on when I should be played in ODIs. It’s a matter of time now. I think in overseas conditions, where the ball does a few things, you need a technically correct batsman.”

The start may not have been great for Pujara in this IPL, but the 26-year-old is in no mood to give up.

“I’m new to this T20 format. What I lack most is experience. It’s difficult to switch to T20 mode from Tests. With experience, I have got better in Tests from the time I started playing for India. I believe it will be the same in this format too. I have been talking a lot to Virupa and George Bailey and getting to understand more about the game,” he said.