VVS Laxman said two of India’s most experienced Test batsmen Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane are making the same mistake repeatedly. Indian middle-order continues to be a worry on the ongoing tour of England with the likes of Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane again delivering low scores.
While Cheteshwar Pujara scored 9 off 23, Ajinkya Rahane managed 1 off 23 as India frittered away an excellent start by the openers to be bowled out for 364 in their first innings of the ongoing Lord’s Test vs England.
VVS Laxman: Cheteshwar Pujara Is More Eager To Score
The opening pair of KL Rahul and Rohit Sharma stitched a 126-run partnership and Cheteshwar Pujara who has time and again proven to be the team’s rock was dislodged early with his last fifty in the format coming nine innings before. His departure brought in captain Virat Kohli (42) who added 117 runs with KL Rahul for the fourth wicket.
However, post his dismissal, the Indian innings unravelled. It’s been seven straight innings now for Ajinkya Rahane that he has failed to score a half-century. Batting legend VVS Laxman dissects what’s ailing Cheteshwar Pujara who he feels looks restless and too eager to score runs.
“A mixture of technical issues and eagerness to score,” VVS Laxman said on ESPNcricinfo while pointing out what mistakes Pujara is committing.
“We saw even in the first innings at Nottingham, the way he was restless till the time was there on the crease, eventually he(Rahane) was run out. Even today we saw very very tentative footwork. Whenever you are indecisive, whenever you are trying to look at the outcome instead of concentrating on the ball, you always tend to reach out for the ball.”
The experienced duo of Cheteshwar Pujara and Test vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane have not been at their best of late, averaging in the 20s this year. While Cheteshwar Pujara made 4, 12 not out, and 9 in the three innings in the England series so far, Ajinkya Rahane managed just 5 and 1 in the two innings he got to play.
Ajinkya Rahane is averaging just 19.21 this year from 9 Tests while Cheteshwar Pujara has done slightly better at 27.78 from the same number of games. Meanwhile, Virat Kohli has scored 387 runs in 10 Tests (16 innings) at an average of 24.19 since 2020. In the same period, Ajinkya Rahane has notched up 541 runs (13 Tests – 22 innings) at an average of 25.76 while Cheteshwar Pujara managed 552 runs in 13 Tests (23 innings).
VVS Laxman: Ajinkya Rahane And Cheteshwar Pujara Are Repeating The Same Mistakes
VVS Laxman opines that Ajinkya Rahane and Cheteshwar Pujara are repeating mistakes that have contributed to their slump in form.
“Both Rahane and Pujara will be disappointed that they are repeating the same mistake, which has led to their dismissals in the last 8-10 months. We saw Rahane getting out in a very similar fashion in Australia,” VVS Laxman said.
He continued, “Today if you see the replays very closely you will realize that he was late on the ball. His left foot was still in the air, there was no transfer of body weight.”
He also fears that the pressure of scoring runs may be playing a role considering their reputation.
“I hope the outside noise is not playing on the minds of Pujara and Rahane. There is always more pressure on established players because there are youngsters waiting to take your spot. That pressure keeps getting more with each low score,” he explained.
Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane’s form remains a cause of concern. With the likes of Prithvi Shaw, Hanuma Vihari, and Suryakumar Yadav waiting in the wings, many believe that the second Test against England could serve as the final opportunity for the duo, both of whom have had a disappointing run in the whites for a long time.