The selection of Cheteshwar Pujara has become the talk of the town after he was dropped from the Indian team for the first test. The “Men in Blue” failed to impress and lost the first test by 31 runs, thanks to efforts of Virat Kohli who himself contributed more than 200 runs in India’s total of 426 runs in two innings that brought the defeat margin to less than humiliating.
Indian openers Shikhar Dhawan and Murali Vijay failed to fire that became one of the reason for the downfall. In-form KL Rahul was also not amongst the runs which has brought the debate to the selection of Cheteshwar Pujara for the second test. Former India cricketer Virender Sehwag who is an active customer on the social media asked the opinion of his fans and followers over the selection conundrum of Pujara.
Sehwag’s question in Sehwag style
“Pope likely to play for England,
Should India play Pujara in the second test. ?
After all it’s Lords,” he asked.
Here’s what fans opinioned
Surely Pujara need to play, if he not score runs at least waste energy of England bowlers, may score 20 runs in 200 balls. ? and next match will not end in 3 and half day,
— naveen chauhan (@aayucom1972) August 6, 2018
In tests it is better to worship pujara!!
— Yash Tiwari (@theyashtv) August 6, 2018
Yes.@cheteshwar1 should’ve been selected in the 1st test also.
— Ayan Chatterjee (@iam_achatterjee) August 6, 2018
Pujara is always a man of your playing XI viru sir. He has shown with his batting over the time. Kohli can eliminate M Vijay and send KL and Shikhar for opening! Plus Pujara! It will be a good squad then! KL and Shikhar! Pujara! Kohli! Rahane! DK!
— Keshav (@keshav4384) August 6, 2018
At the Mecca of cricket , we should get back Pujara in the Playing 11, we need a player who can bat for long hours and also get Rishabh Pant in for DK.
— neha_johri_rawal (@0412Njr) August 6, 2018
At the Mecca of cricket , we should get back Pujara in the Playing 11, we need a player who can bat for long hours and also get Rishabh Pant in for DK.
— neha_johri_rawal (@0412Njr) August 6, 2018
Problems with Pujara at away tours
Pujara has been instrumental in India’s home season last year but has faced immense criticism for not being consistent at away tours.
The Saurashtra batsman’s approach of playing slow and building it for a long innings has been successful in India because the pitch tends to slow down with every passing session but when he does the same at the away tours, things doesn’t work in his favour, especially in South Africa, England and Australia tour.
The pitch and conditions at these parts of the world favour the bowlers and the uneven bounce makes it a graveyard for any batsman. Pujara who takes time to get his eyes in is successful in the Indian subcontinent but the problem persists at the away tours when one surprising bouncer or a sharp out-swinger is all it takes to send him packing. His approach of going too defensive costs him his wicket and he fails to deliver it for India at the away tours. Rather an attacking batsman in the second test might well be a good option for team India
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