What You Get From Pujara, You Will Not Get From Pant: Aakash Chopra On The Intent Debate

Former Indian opener turned commentator Aakash Chopra recently opened up on the ‘intent’ debate that has become the talking point in Indian cricket following their defeat in the WTC final against New Zealand.

Following the defeat in Southampton, skipper Virat Kohli had talked about the need for the right kind of intent that his batters need to show in the middle.

Many believe that Kohli was singling out the veteran duo of Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane, both of whom had a poor outing in the final.

One of the fans asked Aakash Chopra on his official YouTube channel that whether it is the end of the road for Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane.

Aakash Chopra responded in the negative, stating that he does not believe that Virat Kohli was pinpointing a specific individual.

He added that while he has no doubt in his mind that Pujara and Rahane will do well in the England series, the former opener also asserted that every player contributes to the teams’ cause in a different way.

”I have got no doubt in my mind that the England series will go good for Rahane and Pujara but everyone has their own style of playing. We must respect that what you get from Pujara, you will not get from Pant and what you get from Rahane, you will not get from Kohli,’’ said Aakash Chopra.

‘’Let’s wait and watch. I don’t think he is singling out people, that Pujara or Rahane played slowly. Maybe he is just talking about a different frame of mind which might have been there in the dressing room, which may not have been that positive. I don’t think he was talking about Pujara and Rahane,’’ he added.

‘What is Intent?”- Aakash Chopra

Aakash Chopra further pointed out that aggressive batsmanship cannot always be regarded as the ‘right intent’.

He elaborated-

‘’What is intent? Colin de Grandhomme also shows intent, he comes and starts slogging, is that the right intent? Pant also showed the intent in the second innings but was that the right intent?”

He reckoned that Rohit Sharma’s defensive and cautious batting approach was better intent than Rishabh Pant’s belligerence in the second innings.

“Rohit Sharma was playing defensively but I thought it was positive intent. Rishabh Pant was playing with the aggressive intent but it was probably not the right intent from the Indian team’s perspective.” said Chopra.

Aakash Chopra signed off by saying that the fighting spirit shown by the likes of Ashwin, Hanuma Vihari, Cheteshwar Pujara during the Test series in Australia exemplified the right kind of intent.

“Intent is something which is grossly overrated at times. When Cheteshwar Pujara stood in Sydney, taking blows all over the body, Ashwin and Hanuma Vihari did that. If you go to Gabba, Pujara was getting hit by the ball repeatedly. That is also the right intent.” he added.

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