The Quicker You Get To The 3-Figure Mark, Then Everyone Will Stop Talking - VVS Laxman Says Cheteshwar Pujara's Century Drought Is "Definitely A Worry"

Former India batsman VVS Laxman felt that Cheteshwar Pujara’s lack of a big score is “definitely a worry” for the Indian team.

Pujara’s century drought extended as he registered a total of 47 in the second innings of the Mumbai Test versus New Zealand. His last Test ton came in Sydney in January 2019 against Australia. Since then, he has notched up 11 fifties in 24 Tests but has failed to cross the 3-figure mark.

VVS Laxman expressed concern, saying that batting in the top-order, Pujara gets more chances to score hundreds but hasn’t been able to do so for a long time.

“Yes, it’s definitely a worry. Because the batting position Pujara usually bats is No. 3. You usually get a lot more opportunities (to score hundreds) than when you’re batting at No. 5 or No. 6,” VVS Laxman told Star Sports.

It’s about people talking about that and it can get frustrating: VVS Laxman

There were rumours that Pujara would be dropped from the Mumbai Test to pave way for the returning Virat Kohli after Shreyas Iyer sealed his spot with a record-breaking debut in Kanpur. However, Kohli replaced Ajinkya Rahane, who was sidelined due to injury.

VVS Laxman asserted that such talks would frustrate Pujara and that the senior statesman should quite all his detractors only with a century.

“It’s about people talking about that and it can get frustrating. The quicker you get to the 3-figure mark, then everyone will stop talking and then you can go out and do your business with a very, very free mind,” he added.

India’s tour of South Africa has been confirmed. The three-Test series is set to begin on December 26. While Pujara is all but certain to be part of the squad to tour the Rainbow Nation, his place in the starting eleven is not assured.

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