Pujara Suggests New Test Batting Line-Up After Seniors Exit

Photos:AFP

Indian Test Team to See Big Changes After Kohli, Rohit's Exit – Pujara Shares His Thoughts

With the retirement of two senior Indian players, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, from Test cricket, India is entering a new phase. Their absence means that the Indian team has a fresh chance to build a new batting line-up. With the England tour coming up, this is a key moment for the team.

Cheteshwar Pujara, one of India’s most dependable batters in the last decade, shared his views on how the new Test team should shape up. In a recent online session organized by Sony Sports Network, he spoke openly about his choices and opinions.

Pujara believes KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal should continue as openers. According to him, they performed well in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia and deserve to be backed again.

"The openers who batted in Australia in the BGT series – KL Rahul and Yashasvi – should continue," said Pujara.

The tricky part is who will bat at No. 3 and No. 4. Traditionally, Pujara himself played at No. 3, and after his departure, Shubman Gill was seen as the likely candidate. But things are not so simple.

Pujara said that while Gill can bat at No. 3, there is also a chance he might move to No. 4. If that happens, India will need a new No. 3. Pujara named a few options – Abhimanyu Easwaran, Sai Sudharsan, and Karun Nair. Among them, he sees Easwaran and Sudharsan as better suited for the No. 3 spot.

"If Shubman bats at No. 4, then someone like Abhimanyu Eswaran or Karun Nair could be a good fit at No. 3, but I would still like to see Shubman batting at No. 3," said Pujara.

Pujara further explained that Karun Nair, who has a triple century in Test cricket and has done well in domestic games, might be more suitable for No. 4. So the team could be flexible depending on where Shubman plays.

He said, “If Shubman bats at No. 3, Karun Nair comes at No. 4. If Shubman bats at No. 4, then the choice at No. 3 should be between Abhimanyu Eswaran or Sai Sudharsan.”

Apart from sharing his preferred batting line-up, Pujara also spoke about the challenges that Shubman Gill will face as a young leader, especially on foreign soil like England.

“Gill will learn a lot when he begins preparing in England. There, the ball swings a lot in the early overs. So, as a batter, he needs to be careful during the first 25-30 overs. It’s a bit like Australia, where the ball moves more at the start and then settles down,” said Pujara.

He further added, “If Shubman bats at No. 3 or No. 4 and India loses early wickets, he must adjust his game. He is talented enough to do that. He just needs to understand which shots to play and which to avoid when the ball is new and moving.”

These changes mark the beginning of a new era in Indian Test cricket. With fresh faces and a new captain, the team will go through a rebuilding phase. This will be a big challenge but also a great opportunity for the next generation of Indian players to prove themselves.

As the England tour approaches, fans will be eager to see how the team shapes up. With legends like Kohli and Rohit stepping aside, it is now time for players like Gill, Jaiswal, and others to step forward and make their mark in red-ball cricket.