Ajinkya Rahane Backs Cheteshwar Pujara After Wellington Test Failure

India registered an all-round failure against New Zealand in the first Test, with many of their batsmen failing to get amongst runs, including the likes of the long format specialist Cheteshwar Pujara.

Cheteshwar Pujara’s Wellington Test failure:

Known for playing in a calm and composed manner, Pujara managed to score 11 runs in each innings. Interestingly, he was much slower in his approach in the second essay as he took 81 deliveries to reach there.

His form came as an added disappointment for India as they had lost opener Prithvi Shaw early in both the innings and needed a specialist like Pujara to step up and provide composure to the top order.

Cheteshwar Pujara did not get stuck: Ajinkya Rahane

Test vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane was of the opinion that Pujara did not get stuck, even though he did not get amongst runs, but New Zealand bowled well. Rahane believes every batsmen goes through such phase but the team should re-group and think how to approach the problems in the second match.

“I thought personally New Zealand bowled very well in the first well. Pujara did not get stuck according to me. He was trying to score runs. All their bowlers did not bowl any loose deliveries. It can happen, any batsman can go through this phase. Everyone’s game is completely different. As a team, we have to figure out how we actually play in the middle,” Rahane told reporters. 

Pujara has a solid average of 48.83 in the longest format of the game. With the series against New Zealand on the line, India will need him to step up in the final Test, starting at Hagley Oval on Friday.

His experience of 76 Tests will be duly tested with Kiwi bowlers in fine form and the home team looking to clean sweep the series. However, India will be wary of their bowling attack and their batsmen will look to provide resilience in the forthcoming Test.