ENG vs IND: “Definitely see him playing in the first Test match” – Aakash Chopra rubbishes reports suggesting Cheteshwar Pujara’s exit

ENG vs IND: “Definitely see him playing in the first Test match” – Aakash Chopra rubbishes reports suggesting Cheteshwar Pujara’s exit

Aakash Chopra and Cheteshwar Pujara

Former India cricketer Aakash Chopra sees Chetshwar Pujara playing in the first Test match against England, starting August 4 at the Trent Bridge, Nottingham. 

Soon after the Indian team lost the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) Final against New Zealand, several cricket experts and fans slammed the batting unit of the national side. Pujara found himself under maximum fire as the likes of Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane and Rishabh Pant didn’t face much criticism. 

However, in a recent video uploaded on his Facebook page, Chopra expects Pujara to be picked for the maiden Test match, despite not scoring a ton since the last two years.

“Reports come but I am not believing that news because the last time India had toured England, Cheteshwar had scored a century. Yes, I know what you are thinking that his average is less than 30 in England and he has toured there two or three times.

“But I definitely see Cheteshwar Pujara playing in the first Test match. In my opinion, at this point, I will not touch him. I will continue with Cheteshwar Pujara,” Aakash Chopra said in an uploaded video on his Facebook page.

Aakash Chopra feels Pujara’s style of play is very good for him

Cheteshwar Pujara
Cheteshwar Pujara has 6267 runs at an impressive average of over 46 in 86 Tests

Cheteshwar Pujara has scored his Test runs at a below-par average of 28.03 since scoring his last hundred against Australia in 2019. Moreover, his defensive playing method has also arisen a lot of questions in recent months. 

The cricketer-turned-commentator has reckoned that Pujara’s playing style suits him and he has done exceptionally well.  

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“He didn’t score runs recently in the WTC as well. His style of play is very good for him, the team also benefits a lot at times but repeatedly controversy raises its head that you are taking so much time and not moving the game forward,” he added.

Chopra concluded by saying that he expects Pujara to improve his record against England and come better in the coming WTC cycle.

“I will also expect from Pujara, his average of 29 in England and the same average in the two-year WTC cycle, that’s not what Pujara is made of. He played all the matches, there were some important knocks, but the big runs have not come,” the commentator signed off.

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