Aakash Chopra has said that he does not believe the reports which say that India’s batting mainstay in Tests, Cheteshwar Pujara will be dropped from the team for the first Test against England, starting next month. Notably, he failed to deliver in both innings of the inaugural World Test Championship (WTC) final. And, since then certain reports have suggested that he is likely to be dropped as well.
While responding to a fan question in a video, Aakash Chopra said that Cheteshwar Pujara’s century in India’s last tour to England will help him to stay in the team as well. The former Indian opener said: “Reports come but I am not believing that news because the last time India had toured England, Cheteshwar had scored a century. Yes, I know what you are thinking that his average is less than 30 in England and he has toured there two or three times.”
The veteran further shared that while Cheteshwar Pujara’s batting has helped Team India several times, it has also earned him critical remarks too.
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He added: “He didn’t score runs recently in the WTC as well. His style of play is very good for him, the team also benefits a lot at times but repeatedly controversy raises its head that you are taking so much time and not moving the game forward.”
Notably, Cheteshwar Pujara’s batting has helped the team during the Sydney and Brisbane Tests of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy last year. However, his inability to score quickly at times creates pressure on the other end and it helps the opposition to have the upperhand too.
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Aakash Chopra, however, wants him to play. He said: “But I definitely see Cheteshwar Pujara playing in the first Test match. In my opinion, at this point in time, I will not touch him. I will continue with Cheteshwar Pujara.”
“I will also expect from Pujara, his average of 29 in England and the same average in the two-year WTC cycle, that’s not what Pujara is made of. He played all the matches, there were some important knocks, but the big runs have not come,” he concluded.
