'India need him' - Brad Hogg backs Cheteshwar Pujara ahead of Manchester Test

There were some doubts over Cheteshwar Pujara’s confidence as a batter in the ongoing Test series between England and India. But, with every match in the Test series, it seems that Pujara is coming back to his run-scoring form. Now, ahead of the final Test at Old Trafford in Manchester, former Australian spinner Brad Hogg has weighed in the discussion of Pujara’s importance in this team. 

The Saurashtra batter seemed a little out of sorts in the World Test Championship 2021 final and then didn’t have the best of starts in the five-match Test series against England. In the second innings of the second Test at Lord’s, he made 45 runs during a patient knock of more than 200 balls. 

At Headingley, he made 91 runs in the second innings and then followed that up with his 61 in The Oval Test. His batting has been more aggressive in the second innings in Headingley and Oval and he has looked more positive, which Hogg pointed out. The former spinner further explained that India needs Pujara at No. 3 for the final Test. 

Pujara’s authority and attacking nature have worked well: Brad Hogg

“Pujara, you need him in the team. But he’s playing a little more aggressively as well and with that aggressiveness, his defensive game has become more potent, more positive. The footwork has created him being in a better position and harder for England to bowl to him. Pujara’s authority and attacking nature have worked well,” Hogg said on his YouTube channel.

Even though Pujara has managed some crucial runs for India in this series, what has been evident in his failure to score in the first innings. In the four Tests so far, he has made 4, 9, 1, and 4 in the first innings, while his numbers in the second innings are significantly better. He has scored 209 runs in four innings at an average of 69.67. 

For now, India will go to Manchester in a positive mind frame with most of their batters having some runs under their belt. In the second innings in Oval, India scored 466, with Shardul Thakur, Rishabh Pant, and Pujara getting fifties apart from the hundred by Rohit Sharma. Virat Kohli and KL Rahul got scores in the forties as well.