India still don’t have a better batter than Pujara in Test cricket: Harbhajan Singh. Cheteshwar Pujara was dropped from the Indian Test team following the World Test Championship Final in 2023.
Team India suffered a humiliating defeat to South Africa in the first Test at SuperSport Park in Centurion, losing by an innings and 32 runs. The Rohit Sharma-led team was completely outplay in all three areas, scoring only 245 and 131 runs in each innings. With the ball, pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah fail to get any suppor. As South Africa amassed a mammoth 408 in the first innings thanks to Dean Elgar’s magnificent century.
Following India’s devastating defeat, former off-spinner Harbhajan Singh question the team’s decision to leave Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane out of the Test lineup. Notably, Pujara last play for India in the World Test Championship Final in 2023. While Rahane a vice-captain in the most recent Test series against the West Indies in July.
“You didn’t pick Ajinkya Rahane and left Cheteshwar Pujara out of nowhere. ” These two players have scored runs all over the place. According to the previous record, Pujara made the same contribution as Kohli. I have no idea why Pujara was left out; we still don’t have a better batter in Test cricket than Puajra. “He plays slowly, but he saves you; India won Tests in Australia and England because of him,” Harbhajan stated on his YouTube account.
Notably, Pujara has played ten Tests in South Africa and scored 535 runs. At an average of 28.15 with one hundred and three fifties. On the other hand, Rahane has scored 402 runs in six Tests played in South Africa at an average of 36.54 with three half-centuries to his name.
Also Visit: After the MCG thrashing, Mohammad Hafeez praises Pakistan as a “better” squad.
Shubman Gill and Shreyas Iyer failed to score big for India
India went in with youngsters Shubman Gill and Shreyas Iyer after dropping the seasoned batting stalwarts, but the two failed to make big contributions in both innings. Gill had 2 and 26 points in two innings, while Iyer had 31 and 6.
Meanwhile, after losing the first Test, India will attempt to reclaim some prestige by winning the second Test at Newlands in Cape Town, tying the two-match series 1-1.
Also Read: Elgar will lead after Bavuma is ruled out of the Cape Town Test due to a hamstring injury.