Hope The Outside Noise Is Not Playing On The Minds Of Cheteshwar Pujara And Ajinkya Rahane, Says VVS Laxman

Former India batsman VVS Laxman expressed his concerns about the heavy criticism on Indian batters Ajinkya Rahane and Cheteshwar Pujara should not affect their minds which currently is resulting in their poor performance.

Since the England series at home, both Rahane and Pujara have been under the loggerheads for their batting approach and for not adding enough runs to the team.

Even in the second Test against England at Lord’s the duo once again failed to deliver according to their potential and became victims to England pacer James Anderson, who got his seventh five-wicket haul on Lord’s honors board.

I hope the outside noise is not playing on the minds of Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane: VVS Laxman

Given that India has plenty of options available on their bench, Laxman feels the pressure on senior players is more to perform consistently.

“I hope the outside noise is not playing on the minds of Pujara and Rahane. There is always more pressure on established players because there are youngsters waiting to take your spot. That pressure keeps getting more with each low score,” Laxman said on ESPNcricinfo.

After opener Rohit Sharma was dismissed on 83, it was expected from Pujara to carry the momentum but the latter poked to Anderson’s outside off-pitched ball to give Jonny Bairstow a low catch at the third slip. Laxman said there is an eagerness in Pujara’s mind to score runs which makes him commit technical errors where he foes to push the ball.

“A mixture of technical issues and eagerness to score. Whenever you are indecisive, whenever you are trying to look at the outcome instead of concentrating on the ball, you always tend to reach out for the ball,” Laxman mentioned.

Rahane got out in a similar fashion to Anderson on the first ball he faced on the second day’s play at Lord’s. According to Laxman’s analysis, the Indian vice-captain played the ball very lately with minimal work from his body.

Ajinkya Rahane and Cheteshwar Pujara are repeating the same mistakes in the last 8-10 months: VVS Laxman

Laxman also pointed out that both Rahane and Pujara are repeating the same mistakes, which leads to their dismissals, for the last 10 months.

“Today, if you see the replays very closely you will realise that he was late on the ball. His left foot was still in the air, there was no transfer of body weight,” Laxman observed.

“Both Rahane and Pujara will be disappointed that they are repeating the same mistake, which has led to their dismissals in the last 8-10 months. We saw Rahane getting out in a very similar fashion in Australia,” he added.

Also Read: The Way Cheteshwar Pujara And Ajinkya Rahane Are Getting Out Is A Real Cause Of Worry: Ashish Nehra