'Has a lot of talent and long future' - Brad Hogg picks Cheteshwar Pujara's replacement for England tour

Team India players are currently on a 42-day break in England. Their next assignment is five-match Test series against England starting on August 4. The World Test Championship (WTC) Final loss against New Zealand has kind of exposed India’s middle-order who were found wanting in the seam and swing conditions in England. The likes of Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane’s failures have made the management possibly explore the other batting options available for the high-octane series.

India’s No.3 batsman Cheteshwar Pujara, of late, has failed to get going with the willow in hand. He is not new to being criticized for batting slow or blunt the opposition at his own pace, but the team’s failure to win yet another ICC event has left skipper Virat Kohli and management to do a bit of soul searching.

Former Australia cricketer Brad Hogg has his say when he was quizzed by a fan on Twitter as to who could possibly replace Pujara at the number three position for India. Hogg gave an interesting option and named Prithvi Shaw as the replacement to Pujara.

“If anyone was going to replace Pujara it would be Prithvi Shaw. Feel he is more suited there than opening. Has a lot of talent and a long future. He is not in the tour group but a wild card choice,” Hogg tweeted in response.

If anyone was going to replace Pujara it would be Prithvi Shaw. Feel he is more suited there than opening. Has a lot of talent and long future. He is not in the tour group but a wild card choice. #EngvIND https://t.co/8wEF82aq1A

— Brad Hogg (@Brad_Hogg) July 2, 2021

Cheteshwar Pujara keen to score some crucial runs during the England Tests

The heat is on Pujara and he has to quickly find his form, in the first Test itself, since the five-match series is part of the new WTC cycle. The right-hand batter’s recent form does not augur well for the team, as he has scores of 8, 15, 17, 0, 21, 7, 73, and 15 in the WTC Final and against England in the recently held home series. He is, without a doubt, India’s most experienced batter in the team, along with Kohli and Rahane.

With Shubman Gill ruled of at least the first Test, Pujara’s role becomes more important at the crucial number three position. He has previously toured this part of the country in 2014 and 2018 and has also played county cricket in England. He just needs to get one big score under his belt to get going, and he will dearly hope to get his rhythm back during the England tour.