“If he goes over the top against England, I’ll take half my mustache out” – Ravichandran Ashwin makes open challenge to Cheteshwar Pujara

“If he goes over the top against England, I’ll take half my mustache out” – Ravichandran Ashwin makes open challenge to Cheteshwar Pujara
Cheteshwar Pujara

Cheteshwar Pujara is among the most patient players in Test cricket. Drafted into the Indian squad over a decade ago as the one who would replace Rahul Dravid, Pujara has delivered on expectations with his dogged approach and disciplined cricket. His ability to hang in at the crease and soak pressure has time and again, allowed the other Indian batters to cut loose and score big. His excellence was on display in Australia as well.

Despite the fact that Pujara did not go on to get a century in the series, his remarkable patience helped tire out the Aussie bowlers. He scored crucial fifties and batted for over 900 balls in the series to become the second leading run-scorer for India in the series after Rishabh Pant. His focus will now be on England’s tour of India where he will look to continue in the same vein and frustrate the English bowlers.

‘Will we ever see Pujara hit an off-spinner over the top?’

YouTube video

Indian spinner Ravichandran Ashwin spoke to Indian batting coach Vikram Rathour on his YouTube channel and spoke about Pujara’s batting. Ashwin asked, “Will we ever see Pujara hit an off-spinner over the top?” “Work-in-progress. I’m trying to convince him that at least once go over the top. He is still not convinced, He is giving me great reasons,” Rathour replied. Ashwin then gave an open challenge saying, “If he goes over the top against Moeen Ali or any other spinner stepping down the wicket in this English series that we gonna play, I will take half my mustache out and come to play the game. This is an open challenge.”

“That’s a great challenge to put across. Let’s hope that he takes it up. I don’t think he will take it up,” Rathour then said. “I love his attitude. The way he bats, the way he prepares actually he is a coach’s dream actually. So, I have to defend him against you. I think no praise is enough for the way he batted in the last Test match. The way he responded to all those short balls and all injuries that he had,” Rathour added.

Pujara and Ashwin will next be seen in action in the first Test against England in Chennai which begins on February 5.

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