Former cricketer Robin Uthappa believes that the Indian team management missed the trick by not adding veteran batter Cheteshwar Pujara to the squad for the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) Test series against Australia as well. He also added that Team India don’t have anyone who can play the anchor’s role in the tough Australian conditions.
On his YouTube channel, he said: “There is still a place for a player like Cheteshwar Pujara. According to me, a place for him will have to be made in this team as soon as possible. It’s a need. We have mostly aggressive batters from No. 1 to No. 6. We need someone like Cheteshwar Pujara, Rahul Dravid, Kane Williamson and Will Young. We always need someone who can become an anchor and hold one end up and all the other batters can bat around him.”
Robin Uthappa also added that Team India will heavily depend on their seasoned off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin in the BGT 2024-25 as well. He also mentioned that Ashwin will play a key role for the visitors alongside seamer Jasprit Bumrah.
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“This is just a very temporary form from Ravichandran Ashwin. I think he is an absolute legend of the game and he is as important to India as Nathan Lyon and Anil Kumble for Australia and India, respectively. India’s success will depend a lot on Bumrah, Ashwin, Shami, if he will be fit, and one or two other fast bowlers.”
Robin Uthappa also commented on New Zealand’s top order batter Rachin Ravindra’s practice stint at the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) academy before the side’s three-match Test series in India as well.
“Rachin Ravindra came here and practiced at the CSK Academy. CSK is a beautiful franchise that will always look after its franchise players but a line has to be drawn where the interest of the country comes ahead of your franchise players, especially when he is a foreign player and comes and plays against our country. I am not surprised that CSK always go over and above for their players but somewhere in that kindness, maybe I am not saying the right thing, I absolutely love CSK, but when it comes to the country, there should be a line somewhere where we do not cross that line,” he added. “On the basis of that preparation, Rachin Ravindra batter brilliantly. One of the best knocks by an overseas player. On that wicket, 134 off 157 balls, it was solid batting. He then showed that he is the future of New Zealand cricket.”
