The veteran Indian batsman, Cheteshwar Pujara on Saturday said that the delivery from the Australian fast bowler, Pat Cummins that dismissed him is one of the best balls bowled in the ongoing series. Pujara has been receiving a lot of flak for his slow approach at the crease, but he reckons that he needs to go about his job in the manner he knows.
As per the quotes in ANI, during the post-day virtual press conference, Cheteshwar Pujara said, “We are trying our best, but sometimes Pat Cummins has a better idea, sometimes he was bowled some of the unplayable deliveries, for example, the ball which I got, if there was any other batter, I felt that was the best ball of this series, sometimes you have to accept it, we are trying our best as a batting unit. It is not just about him, it is important to bat well as a unit.”
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He further elaborated, “I have got out against him four times but some of them were really good balls, we need to respect that, overall I am confident about my batting. The way I was batting today, I was really confident. The way I got out today, I have to accept that. I could not have done anything better, I would rather focus on the things I need to do as a batsman. I just have to bat in the manner I know to bat, even as a batting unit, you need to build partnerships and bat well as a unit.”
Pujara who registered his slowest Test half-century on day three of the third Test just before going back to the pavilion. Cummins, who bothered the visitors from the word go, got Pujara’s crucial wicket which led to tge downfall of the Indian team. The Indian number three played 176 balls and managed to score just 50 runs at a strike-rate of 28.41.
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Former Australia skipper Ricky Ponting asserted that Pujara’s approach was not right and his approach put more pressure on other Indian batsmen.
Tweeting about the same, Ponting wrote: “I don’t think it was the right approach, I think he needed to be a bit more proactive with his scoring rate because I felt it was putting too much pressure on his batting partners.”
I don't think it was the right approach, I think he needed to be a bit more proactive with his scoring rate because I felt it was putting too much pressure on his batting partners https://t.co/2OhmdATvke
— Ricky Ponting AO (@RickyPonting) January 9, 2021
India’s middle and lower-order failed to deliver as the visitors were eventually bundled out for 244 in the second session on day three of the third Test against Australia on Saturday. Australia has now taken a lead of 197 runs at end of the day over the visitors.
