Former India batsman Sanjay Manjrekar believes India still are not ready for life after Cheteshwar Pujara in the Test format. In the last few years, Team India have dropped Cheteshwar Pujara on a number of occasions but it did not take them long to recall the dependable batsman.
And every time, Cheteshwar Pujara has justified his recall. He was last dropped from the Test team in February last year before being recalled for the rescheduled Test in England last summer. The call-up came after he impressed in the County Championship. Playing for Sussex, the right-handed batsman had smashed four centuries in eight innings to average 120.
He plied his trade for Sussex in the ongoing season too and will be in action soon when India take on Australia in the ongoing ICC World Test Championship final from next week. In 6 matches for Sussex this season, the righthanded batsman has hit three centuries and 1 fifty. India will be hoping that Pujara makes the most of his experience in England and deliver against Australia.
Sanjay Manjrekar on Cheteshwar Pujara:
Speaking ahead of the much-anticipated WTC final, Sanjay Manjrekar hailed Pujara as the most reliable player in the Indian batting lineup. The former cricketer-turned-commentator highlighted that Pujara has consistently played County cricket, regardless of whether India has a tour scheduled in England or not.
“He has always played County cricket, whether India have a tour scheduled in England or not. Because there’s T20 cricket going on in India at the time. He was dropped last year, and we saw how life after Pujara could be, and it wasn’t that great. Today, Pujara is the most dependable player in the Indian lineup,” Manjrekar told ESPNCricinfo.
“After he came back, I’m ready to accept that India is not ready for life after Pujara yet. They still need him,” said Manjrekar further.