Cheteshwar Pujara is an important member of India’s Test setup. His batting style is one of the main reasons for India’s success. India’s batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar feels that critics who haven’t played at Pujara’s level should take it a bit easy.
Pujara, despite his lion-hearted effort in Australia, has often faced criticism about not showing enough intent to keep the scoreboard ticking.
“I think we should appreciate what Cheteshwar Pujara has been able to achieve for India. It’s not always going about and maintaining a strike rate and in Test cricket, you need different kind of planning and different kind of players to fit into your team,” Tendulkar said.
“It’s like five fingers in your hands. Each finger has a different role and Pujara is an integral part of our team. I really like what Pujara has done for India. Rather than scrutinising his every innings, we should be appreciative of what he has done for India.
Sachin Tendulkar believes that people have changed their perspectives due to the advent of T20 cricket.
“They possibly don’t understand. In today’s age of T20, probably if someone can hit the ball, he is regarded as a good player,” he said
“(It is) not necessary that person has to be a good Test player. In Test cricket, you need much more than just hitting the ball and trying to play big shots.”
Sachin Tendulkar said that they have enough players in the Test team who can up the ante when needed. He also added that Pujara should be allowed to play his role without being criticized.
“For strike-rate, we have players like Rishabh Pant and Ravindra Jadeja. They can always increase the strike rate. But when it comes to tire the opposition and where you require planning and vision to execute whatever your strategies are, for that you need a Cheteshwar,” he added.
Talking about the team combination for the World Test Championship final, Sachin Tendulkar believes that both Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja can be effective even if there isn’t much help off the surface at the Hampshire Bowl in Southampton.
“The possibility, according to me, is to play three fast bowlers and two spinners because both (Ashwin and Jadeja) can bat. Eventually how the team management feels after looking at the wicket matters,” Tendulkar said.
