India have lost to New Zealand in the inaugural edition of the World Test Championship (WTC). While many Indian players failed to perform well, it was Cheteshwar Pujara whose poor form came under the scanner. And, South Africa fast bowler Dale Steyn has shared where he has been lacking.

Steyn, who had bowled to Pujara during India’s tour of South Africa way back in 2013 and Pujara played a scintillating knock of 153 in the second innings, feels that Pujara has cut down on playing shots off his back foot which is affecting his game as well. Notably, Pujara could manage to score 8 off 54 balls in the first innings and 15 off 80 in the second as India couldn’t manage to post a huge total.

“Out of my memory, I just remember Pujara playing great off his legs. Very, very good off his legs, and eyes underneath the ball. But I do remember him playing some magical cut shots and backfoot drives. Maybe on pitches that a little bit quicker – and Indian wickets are not quick – he played some beautiful balls underneath his eyes through the cover. It’s a part of the game that I feel he has lost,” Dale Steyn said on ESPNCricinfo.

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“That shot today that he played, if he was in a better position, a couple of years maybe, he would have gotten more on the backfoot and punched it through the covers, whereas he just stood there half and half on his front foot. Overall a very soft dismissal – running it down to first slip is a very peculiar way of getting out for a top batter,” he again shared.

However, Dale Steyn again shared that Pujara needs to be more proactive to counterattack the bowlers. Notably, Pujara had a stunning series against Australia Down Under earlier this year but he hit the rough patch during the England series at home earlier this year as well.

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“That’s the thing I have seen lacking in Pujara. I’m so used to him rocking onto his backfoot and playing with his hands and good feet movement. He’s kind of lost that part of his game. And if you’re only hanging on the front foot, good bowlers will not bowl half-volleys to you. And you’ve got to turn good balls into good shots. That’s the difference between Test cricket and First-Class cricket. He’s missing out on a lot of runs there,” concluded Dale Steyn.