New Delhi. Veteran batsman Cheteshwar Pujara has said that KL Rahul should not be sent to open in the Test series against Australia. Pujara has experience of playing in Australia. He said that explosive young opening batsman Yashasvi Jaiswal is capable of doing what David Warner used to do when he was at the top of his game. The five-match Test series will start from Friday at Optus Stadium in Perth. Pujara said in ‘Star Sports Press Room’, ‘I don’t know the batting order. I would like him (Rahul) at number three because he has the experience of batting there.
KL Rahul is expected to open the innings with young opener Yashasvi Jaiswal. Whereas Devdutt Padikkal of Karnataka can be fielded at number three to maintain the combination of left-right handed batsmen. Pujara said, ‘It seems that the team is giving preference to Devdutt (Padikkal) at number three for left-right hand combination. He has batted at number five, six and middle order. It will be easier to bat at number three than opening the innings. If he can bat at number three then it would be good.
‘Jaiswal is one of the most talented cricketers of India’
Pujara, who is out of India’s Test team, praised Jaiswal and compared his batting with Australia’s legendary batsman Warner. Pujara said, ‘One of the most talented cricketers of India… I am confident that he will have a lot to prove in the future. I know that if we have to win, he will play an important role in this series. His role will be one of the most important. He can play the same role as David Warner used to play for the Australian team. Pujara said that the youth should play with confidence and without fear of failure.
,As a batsman you have to understand your strengths’
On dealing with short-pitched balls in Australian conditions, Pujara said that batsmen have to identify the balls they should leave. According to Pujara, ‘As a batsman you have to understand your strengths. We often play hook shots which we are not able to play. Most short-pitched balls on Indian pitches are below shoulder level. But in Australia they are often above shoulder height.
‘You can’t have any fixed rules’
Pujara said, ‘As a batsman you have to identify which balls to leave and which to play. You can pull the ball below your shoulders but you have to control the shot. Sometimes you release the ball and sometimes you pull it. You can’t have any set rules – you just have to see the ball and play according to the situation. It is very important for the Indian team to win 4 test matches in this series. If Team India is successful in doing this, then it will easily enter the WTC final.
Tags: Cheteshwar Pujara, IND vs AUS, KL Rahul
FIRST PUBLISHED: November 21, 2024, 18:59 IST