Senior Indian Test batsman Cheteshwar Pujara scored fifty and was dismissed immediately thereafter which started the slide in the Indian batting line-up as they were ultimately bowled out for 244 in their first innings in Sydney. Pujara and Gill were the only two batsmen who scored above fifty as India lost their last five wickets for just 21 runs. Incidentally, they lost their last six wickets for just 49 runs. Meanwhile, former Australian skipper Ricky Ponting has blamed him for batting with the right approach.
Taking to Twitter Ricky Ponting said that Pujara did not bat with the right intent and approach. He further said that the right-hander was also not proactive in his innings and adding too much pressure on his batting partner.
Ricky Ponting Criticises Cheteshwar Pujara
“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” wrote Ponting on Twitter.
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
Earlier in the day, a compelling performance from the Australian bowlers saw India being bowled out for 244. India started the day on 96 and lost five wickets for just 21 runs before a late flourish from Ravindra Jadeja (28) got India to that score. During his knock, he was hit on his left thumb which is why he is not on the field in the second innings.
Keeping his good form on Pat Cummins took four wickets with the ball in the first innings. Mitchell Starc took a wicket and Josh Hazlewood took two. The Indian inning also saw as many as three run-outs which was another highlight of their batting innings.
India collapsed from being 180 for 4 to 244 all-out as they lost Rishabh Pant and Cheteshwar Pujara in successive overs. Pant who got injured in his left elbow was taken for scans. Wriddhiman Saha is keeping wickets for India in the second innings in Pant’s absence. Ravindra Jadeja too has not taken the field in the second innings after injuring his left thumb while batting.
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