Recently retired Indian top-order batter, Cheteshwar Pujara, has revealed that he knew that he wouldn’t get regular chances in various leagues around the world. This was the biggest reason why the Saurashtra batter was focused mostly on the longest format of the game.

Pujara has played 71 T20 games in his entire career, where he smashed 1556 runs at an average of just under 30 and a strike rate of 112.18 with nine half-centuries and the best score of an unbeaten century. His last IPL game came in 2014, in which season, he drilled 125 runs at a strike rate of 100.80.

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“Yeah, look, someone like me always didn’t have too many options if I had to continue playing Test cricket. I wanted my entire focus to be there, for Test cricket. And I didn’t want to shift my focus from Test cricket, into say T20 leagues or T20 format. I did that early in my career, where I tried my best. If I got an opportunity to be part of the IPL, the T20, or the ODI cricket, then I would be more than happy to do so.” Pujara expressed on ESPNcricinfo.

Watch: Cheteshwar Pujara reveals reasons for not being regular in T20 leagues

Pujara’s last T20 game came in 2022 against Mumbai when he added 12 runs in 10 balls, opening the batting. The veteran shed light on how he never tried range hitting in practice before Test matches.

'Knew I wouldn't get a chance in the T20 leagues'

Chetweshwar Pujara on why he never chased the shortest format 🗣️ #RockAndRollIt pic.twitter.com/NFenW4C1KX

— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) August 30, 2025

“But in the last five to six years, I knew that I would just have to carry on to play Test cricket. I won’t get an opportunity to play white-ball cricket. So, I didn’t want to shift my focus and change my game just for white-ball cricket. It might affect Test cricket, and I didn’t want to sacrifice that.” The 37-year-old addressed.

“My priority was Test cricket, and I stuck to that. I did try range hitting in practice, but that was only before a T20 game for Saurashtra or when I played white-ball cricket for Sussex. It was purely for the ODI or the T20 preparation. I never did that for Test cricket when I practiced for Test, I never tried too many shots. Maybe against spinners, I did.” The Saurashtra-born added.