Virender Sehwag rates Cheteshwar Pujara as India's second most crucial player

Cheteshwar Pujara arguably the most technically sound batsman in the Indian batting put up a determined effort in the first innings of the first Test to give India a respectable total. The right-handed batsman, according to former Indian opener Virender Sehwag is the second most crucial player on the Indian team.

Ahead of the second Test in Nagpur, Sehwag said that the Indian pacers could make good use of the conditions in their favour. During the 2004 series against Australia, conditions at Nagpur favoured the spin bowlers compared to the ones used in the current series. The pitch used for the second Tests is likely to favour the pace bowlers given the recent trend and the tour Team India is actually preparing for.

Sehwag further said that the Indian bowlers could make use of the conditions to prepare themselves for the Proteas tour early in January next year.

“That time Australia was considered as one of the best teams and whatever the conditions were in Nagpur, we had to play accordingly to that. Now the green top can help the Indian batsman counter the Sri Lankan bowlers,”  Sehwag told India TV during “Cricket Ki Baat” show.

“It was players like Sachin Tendulkar, VVS Laxman, Rahul Dravid and Sourav Ganguly that played well on a turning track such as the one in Nagpur,” he added.

Ajinkya Rahane and Cheteshwar Pujara’s contribution to the team

Virat Kohli & Co. could make use of the pitch, to lead 1-0 in the series after a disappointing start to the tour. India would be playing the second Test without the aid of the star-bowler Bhuvaneshwar Kumar, who is out for personal reasons alongside Shikhar Dhawan.

Further, the former right-handed batsman praised the No.3 batsman Pujara for steadying the ship for the team. He also felt that Ajinkya Rahane’s input is equally necessary for the Indian team.

“Pujara is the most important person in the team and can play on any condition. Seaming, swing and turning, Pujara can handle and play with ease on these conditions,” said Sehwag on Pujara’s role in the team.

“Rahane plays well outside and has scored many runs. These two names aren’t taken the most but do play an important role,” concluded the former opener.