Aakash Chopra has pointed out that Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane have looked slightly vulnerable in the middle of late.
While Pujara was dismissed for just nine runs on the first day of the Lord’s Test, Rahane managed just a solitary run in India’s first innings. This failure extends the series of low scores from the two batsmen in the recent past.
While reviewing India’s batting performance on the second day in a video shared on his YouTube channel, Aakash Chopra termed Pujara and Rahane’s consistent failures a matter of concern.
“India’s No.3 and No.5 problem is still there but it is getting hidden slightly because the others are doing well. But the fact is that Pujara is looking uncertain, a little shaky, and the same can be said about Ajinkya Rahane,” Chopra said in a video on his YouTube channel.
What has to be noted is that Rahane only has one 50-plus score to his name in the last 15 Test innings. Pujara, on the other hand, has only scored a maximum of 21 runs in a Test innings in his last 10 outings. While there’s no denying that the duo could be benched as soon as the next Test onwards, Chopra is hopeful of them turning things around in the second innings at Lord’s.
“Ajinkya Rahane got out on the first ball. Jimmy Anderson – it was a delivery outside off, played and got caught in the slips. I used to call one of them dependable and the other consistent but currently, their wagon is stuck somewhat. I really hope that they get back on track.”
Pujara has a top score of 21 in his last ten Test innings. The Indian vice-captain has also not covered himself in glory since his match-defining century in the Boxing Day Test as skipper.
