IND vs ENG 3rd Test: Cheteshwar Pujara’s horror form continues, departs after scoring just one run: Cheteshwar Pujara’s poor form continued as the India middle-order batsman departed quickly after scoring just one run in the first innings of the third Test in Leeds.
England pacer James Anderson made early inroads as he removed the in-form KL Rahul for a duck and then induced an outside edge to pack off Pujara.
In the 2021 season, Pujara has scored just 94 runs in the four matches he played with a highest of 45, that the India No. 3 scored in Lord’s.
Pujara hasn’t scored a Test half-century since March 2021 and has scores of 12, 8 & 15, 21 & 38, 4 & 12*, 9 & 45.
With this failure, the voices to drop Pujara from the Playing XI and include Suryakumar Yadav will only grow louder.
Suryakumar Yadav has seen his career graph going upwards ever since he made his debut against England at home in the T20Is. He performed well in the Sri Lanka tour, earning him the Test call up. With Pujara struggling Farokh Engineer has batted for his inclusion.
“Firstly, I am a huge fan of Suryakumar Yadav. I think he is a class player. I would certainly prefer him to Pujara or Rahane in playing XI. They are class players, very good players, but Suryakumar Yadav is a match-winner,” Farokh Engineer told Sports Tak.
According to Engineer, Surya is a very positive player and can will the match for India on his onw.
“I think Suryakumar should certainly be in the team. He is an aggressive player; he will get you a quick hundred, a quick 70-80. He is a fabulous batsman, fabulous fielder, and a wonderful human being as well,” Farokh Engineer added.
In the five-match Test series, Pujara has failed to notch a big score and most likely has just one more innings. A failure in the second innings might cost the Test specialist a place in the side.
Editors pick
