Murali Vijay’s injury opens the door for Cheteshwar Pujara ahead of India vs Sri Lanka 2015, 3rd Test
Murali Vijay’s injury opens the door for Cheteshwar Pujara ahead of India vs Sri Lanka 2015, 3rd Test
Murali Vijay and Wriddhiman Saha sustained unfortunate injuries during the course of the second Test between India and Sri Lanka at P Sara Oval, Colombo, and will miss out on the remainder of the series. Karun Nair and Naman Ojha have been announced as replacements. While India will have to choose between bringing in Ojha and making KL Rahul keep wickets, the choice for the second opener’s slot will most likely have to be fulfilled by Cheteshwar Pujara. Shiamak Unwalla feels this could be the ideal opportunity for Pujara to once again stake claim for a spot in the line-up. READ: India will miss services of Murali Vijay, Wriddhiman Saha in 3rd Test against Sri Lanka
One thing that Virat Kohli has proven in his short stint as Indian captain is that he is has no qualms with making tough calls. Rohit Sharma clearly enjoys the confidence of his new captain, as does KL Rahul. The one person who does not seem to inspire a lot of faith from Kohli is Cheteshwar Pujara, who has not played for India since being dropped from the side for the fourth Test against Australia at SCG. READ: Kumar Sangakkara: The master and his legacy
Since Pujara’s loss of form India have tried out Rahul, Rohit, and Ajinkya Rahane at No. 3, with Rahane being the only one to enjoy any sort of success. Rahane’s century in India’s second innings at P Sara Oval could have secured his spot at the No. 3 position for now, and with Kohli preferring to play with five regular batsmen, Pujara’s chances of making it back to the side seemed bleak. READ: Ajinkya Rahane: The quintessential team man
However, with both openers — Murali Vijay and Shikhar Dhawan — picking up injuries, India will have a limited choice of players to choose from as Rahul’s opening partner. Rohit has done the job for India in ODIs, but his recent failure at No. 3 makes it unlikely that he will be made to open. Rahane has the experience of opening for Mumbai, but his century at No. 3 in the second Test makes it improbable that India would shuffle him again. Kohli will not want to push himself up the order either; nor should he. This leaves the options of Pujara or Karun Nair, who has been flown in as cover for Vijay. READ: India cannot afford to keep shuffling batsmen at the crucial No. 3 spot
Even then, there is no guarantee that Pujara will get a look-in for the third and final Test against Sri Lanka, but given his success as opener in the past, he seems the likeliest candidate to open batting for India with Rahul in the third Test. The other likely option is that Rahane will be pushed to open, which will mean Pujara batting at his preferred No. 3 position once again. READ: Kumar Sangakkara vs Ravichandran Ashwin: The final four dismissals of the legend’s career
The first time Pujara had opened batting was against England at Motera 2012-13. The target was a mere 80, and Pujara did his job, scoring 42 not out and ensuring a 9-wicket victory. He opened at Mohali next season with Shikhar Dhawan injuring himself after scoring 187 on debut: Pujara made a quiet 28 during a chase of 136. READ: Indian Bowlers’ Day Out against Sri Lanka in 2nd Test
With Dhawan ruled out, Pujara played as a specialist opener in the next Test at Kotla: he scored a 76-ball 52 (and added 108 with Murali Vijay); once again India were asked to chase, this time 155, and Pujara saw them through with a dazzling 82 not out from 92 balls. He has not opened batting since, and averages 101.50 as opener, albeit based on a small sample. READ: India vs Sri Lanka 2015, 2nd Test: Have India finally settled on the perfect Test combination?
It is unfortunate both Vijay and Dhawan are out with injuries, but there is good that can come from it yet. If Pujara gets to play and if he can get a big score India will have their regular No. 3 back in form. With a gruelling series against South Africa soon to follow, India will want their best batsmen firing on all cylinders. An in-form Pujara will go a long way in helping India take on the No. 1 Test team in the world in a few weeks. READ: Kumar Sangakkara and that cover drive: A match made in cricketing heaven
(Shiamak Unwalla, a reporter with CricketCountry, is a self-confessed Sci-Fi geek who loves cricket more than cricketers. His Twitter handle is @ShiamakUnwalla)