Chheteshwar Pujara bagged yet another failure in the Test series as his horror run in the format continues. He scored 1 off 9 balls before being dismissed in the same pattern that he has been off late. He edged a ball was going away from him to James Anderson who removed India’s top three early. India were ultimately bowled out for 78 as their batsmen failed to counter the seam and the wing from the England bowlers.
Meanwhile, former West Indies skipper Brian Lara has criticised Cheteshwar Pujara’s scoring rate in recent times. Though Pujara has a career strike rate of 44.32 after 88 Test matches, it’s his scoring rate over the past year that has come under scrutiny.
Cheteshwar Pujara Should Play A Few More Shots: Brian Lara
“Pujara, definitely for me, I mean as a batsman, I am not the same as a player, that ability to be so patient and score at such a low strike rate. So, for me, if I was a coach or if I was someone that wanted Pujara to improve, I would try to create a lot more shots and try to score a strike rate that is more beneficial to him and the team” Lara told Hotstar.
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Pujara has been scoring very slowly which has affected not only his but the team’s overall performance. Though he scored a valiant 46 in the second innings at Lord’s, he has failed to sort out his problem outside the off-stump.
During India’s tour of Australia late last year, the Saurashtra batsman scored 271 runs in four Tests at a rate of 29.20. Against England, earlier at home this year, 133 runs in four Tests at a scoring rate of 40.44. In the ongoing five-match Test series against England, Pujara has registered a strike rate of 26.59 after five innings scoring just 71 runs.
The England openers added 120 in the time that they batted after India were bowled out. Both the openers got to their half-centuries and in the process managed a lead of 42. India have to counter-attack on day 2 to make a comeback in this Test match.
Also Read: ENG vs IND 2021: India’s 5 lowest Total Against England In Test Cricket