Prithvi Shaw, not KL Rahul, should replace Cheteshwar Pujara in England test: Brad Hogg
Former Australian spinner Brad Hogg said Prithvi Shaw should take the place of veteran test player Cheteshwar Pujara “if someone was going to replace him.”
Hogg was answering to a fan question in which he was asked whether KL Rahul should replace Pujara in the 5-Test series versus England starting August 4 in Nottingham.
The 50-year-old said that young Shaw was having a lot of talent and a long future to bat at the number three spot.
“If anyone was going to replace Pujara it would be Prithvi Shaw. Feel he is more suited there than opening. Has a lot of talent and long future. He is not in the tour group but a wild card choice,” Hogg replied to the fan.
Notably, Cheteshwar Pujara has been criticised in the past for his slow and ‘intentless’ batting. The criticisms have multiplied ever since India’s defeat in the World Test Championship (WTC) final which saw Pujara score 8 off 54 in the first innings and 15 off 80 in the second.
Captain Virat Kohli had talked about “right people with the right mindset” after the match.
“We will continue to reassess and continue to have conversations around what are the things required to strengthen our side and not follow or fall prey to certain patterns.
“We will not wait for a year or so and have to plan ahead. If you see our white ball team now, we have great depth and guys are ready and confident. Same thing needs to be done with Test cricket.
“You have to reassess and replan and understand what dynamics work for the team and how we can be fearless. Bring in right people who have right mindset to perform,” Kohli had said.
Pujara, who last scored a hundred in January 2019, played crucial knocks in Sydney and Brisbane during the Australia tour. He scored a fifty in the first Test against England in Chennai. However, his form has dipped coniderably in the next 4 Tests India has played after that.
