Australia vs India: Sunil Gavaskar’s words of wisdom for Cheteshwar Pujara ahead of Sydney Test

Former Indian cricketer Sunil Gavaskar reckons that Cheteshwar Pujara should go and have a chat with batting coach Vikram Rathour ahead of the third Test against Australia at the Sydney Cricket Ground. Pujara has scored 63 runs in two Tests at an average of 15.75 with a top score of 43 and is yet to hit his straps.

In the first Day-Night Adelaide Test, Pujara also bagged a duck in the second innings. Though India won the second Test at the MCG by eight wickets, barring stand-in skipper Ajinkya Rahane, who is also the leading run-scorer of the series, no other Indian batter has managed to make a significant impact in the four-match series.

Cheteshwar Pujara has got some beauties, says Gavaskar

“He should go and talk to the batting coach Vikram Rathour. That’s what I would tell him because that is why people have been appointed for,” Gavaskar was quoted as saying during an exclusive interview with India Today.

In the 2018-19 edition of the Border Gavaskar Trophy, Pujara was the leading run-scorer with over 500 runs and three centuries. But this time around, he has found the going tough. Nevertheless, he has time to make amends in the remaining two Tests.

“He has got some beauties. The one in Adelaide which he had to play, the one at Melbourne in the 1st innings, he got terrific deliveries. There is not much a batsman can do when a bowler bowls a delivery like that.

“In the 2nd innings, it felt like he wanted to finish off the match so he played an uncharacteristic shot. That is not what you would see from Pujara, especially at the start of the innings,” Gavaskar added.

Another Indian batsman in Mayank Agarwal has been going through a torrid time in the series. In two Tests, he has 31 runs at an average of 7.75. When asked about whether or not he has consulted the batting coach for advice, Gavaskar said, “Well, you have to check with him.”

India came under the cosh after they were restricted to 36 in the second innings of the Adelaide Test. But victory in the Melbourne Test meant that they drew the equaliser. The third and penultimate Test starts on January 7.