Former Indian selector Sarandeep Singh warns senior middle order batsmen Cheteshwar Pujara that he might lose his place in the playing XI if the flop shot continues.
Team India registered a 113-run win against the home team at Centurion and are currently leading the three match test series by 1-0.
But the major concern for the team is the middle order which consists of Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane. All the three of them are struggling to get back in form.
Runs are not flowing from Cheteshwar Pujara’s bat for quite some time now. The 33-year-old scored a golden duck in the first innings and managed to score just 16 in the second innings of the first test at Centurion.
“Our batting department is not doing well KL Rahul is the only key factor but we can’t depend on him totally and Virat Kohli but here I want to talk about Pujara that he has to score runs because a centurion like Shreyas Iyer is waiting in the squad because of you as you are a senior player and if your flop show continues then you will have to be rested soon,” former India cricketer Sarandeep Singh told to the ANI.
Virat Kohli and co created history by winning the first ever test at Centurion. The bar has been set high now and the fans are expecting a 3-0 whitewash from the Men in Blue.
”The team is doing damn good and I have full faith that we will win the series if I talk about the South Africa team, they are just playing for sake of it and not for the win. They have a weak batting and bowling line up and from the second Test Quinton de Kock will not be part of the team so the batting order will collapse badly and our team is doing good,” Sarandeep added.
The bowlers did a great job as they restricted the Proteas under 200 in both innings of the game. Mohammad Shami picked up a fifer in the first innings while Jasprit Bumrah scalped a total of five wickets in the game. KL Rahul was the only player to score a ton in the first test.
“Our bowling department is doing so well and look at Siraj if we are playing him ahead of Ishant in the team then that shows how good he is playing and how well he did for the team. Talking about Bumrah he is a masterpiece for us and the way he plays is awesome. So, definitely, India will win for the series.” Sarandeep Singh concluded.
Team India are scheduled to play the second test at Johannesburg starting from January 3. Team India will be looking to win this one and become the first Indian team to win a red ball series in South Africa.