Sunil Gavaskar guards the out-of-form Cheteshwar Pujara: The conditions were not very suitable for batting
Former cricketer-turned-columnist Sunil Gavaskar has defended Cheteshwar Pujara despite the veteran India batsman’s poor performance in the just-concluded ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final against New Zealand in Southampton.
Pujara managed scores of 8 and 15 in the WTC Final at the Ageas Bowl. Not only did the 33-year-old not score big but he also batted at a strike rate of less than 19 in both innings.
India went down by 8 wickets in the WTC Final against New Zealand and had to give up the ICC Test mace after owning it for 5 years in succession.
“We should remember how New Zealand batted. Conditions were not very suitable for batting, it was favouring bowlers. The way Conway, Williamson batted in both the innings,” Gavaskar told India Today.
Pujara has been a vital cog in India’s wheel in the World Test Championship but his performances off late have been extremely poor. The 86-Test veteran is averaging just over 30 this year with a strike rate of just below 32. Pujara also hasn’t scored a hundred in two years.
“The way Ross Taylor also batted after starting slow, we should remember that. They also batted like Pujara, started slow but if you want to raise your fingers at Pujara we can’t say anything.
“This is the guy whose solidity allows stroke-players at other end to play their strokes. They are assured that Pujara is holding one end,” Gavaskar told India Today.
India captain Virat Kohli has hinted at changes in the playing XI for the upcoming five-match series against England and it would be interesting to see if the axe falls on Pujara or not.
