Dilip Vengsarkar Reveals How Cheteshwar Pujara Can Release The Pressure
Feb 29, 2020 at 12:06 AM
Ahead of the Christchurch Test against the hosts New Zealand, the former Indian cricketer Dilip Vengsarkar has given crucial advice to the experienced Indian batsmen, including Cheteshwar Pujara.
Indian batsmen mostly surrendered to the host bowlers during both innings of the previous Test at Basin Reserve (Wellington). It was the first game of the two-match Test series between New Zealand and India where the visitors India scored 165 and 191 runs. While the hosts scored 348 runs in their first innings, they won by ten wickets after reaching the nine runs target without losing their wickets.
While there are some new cricketers in the Indian batting unit, Cheteshwar Pujara (11 & 11) and captain Virat Kohli (2 & 19) failed to perform in that Wellington Test match.
Dilip Vengsarkar: Cheteshwar Pujara has to be able to rotate the strike
Dilip Vengsarkar feels that the senior Indian batsmen have to take responsibilities as they haven’t the settle opening partners in this series. While Pujara was heavily criticised for his slow non-responsive batting, scoring a total of 22 runs in 123 balls, Vengsarkar believes that Pujara has to rotate the strike to help the team.
The Test vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane scored 46 and 29 runs in the last game. Dilip Vengsarkar pointed out his performances too as the former Indian cricketer believes that Rahane failed to convert his starts.
Vengsarkar told according to Times Now, “He (Pujara) has scored a lot of runs, but he has to be able to rotate the strike, otherwise his batting partner will be in trouble as he will lose the rhythm being stranded at the other end for long periods. Pujara can’t get bogged down. Also, Ajinkya Rahane was not able to convert his starts.
“They have not allowed the team to settle down. The opening combination is not settled, and so is the middle-order.”
The second and final Test series will be played at Hagley Oval (Christchurch) from 29th February. While India can only save this Test series, they must have to win this game to fulfil their only wish.