NEW DELHI: Hanuma Vihari, a part of India’s again to again sequence wins in Australia, reckons the services and products of veteran batter Cheteshwar Pujara shall be dearly neglected when the workforce targets for a hat-trick Down Beneath later this 12 months.
The 5 Check sequence starts in Perth from November 22. Out of favour Pujara used to be the main run-getter within the 2018-19 sequence with 521 off 1258 balls and used to be as soon as once more the spine of Indian batting 3 years later when he amassed 271 runs off 928 balls.
Around the two groups, the 103-Check veteran via a ways confronted the collection of balls to wear down the opposition assault comprising Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc.
As any other Border-Gavaskar Trophy is at the horizon, Vihari puzzled who can play Pujara’s function this time round.
“Pujara will be a big miss. He was the backbone of the batting line-up in the last two series for Team India. He took blows, he batted time, he stayed there for a long time, he saw the new ball, he got runs. He made the job easier for the other batters coming in,” Vihari instructed PTI in an interplay organized via JioCinema.
“So that kind of role… who will play is a question mark for me. Currently I would say we have an attacking mode of a batting line up (the top six). All like to play their shots. Virat is the only one I feel in that batting line up who can be like a glue to the other batters.
“He can keep on and bat probably the most collection of overs and batting in Australia is all about time. If you happen to see off the brand new ball, it will get just a little more straightforward with the older Kookaburra ball,” added Vihari who played the last of his 16 Tests in July 2022.
In the absence of Pujara, he also sees a significant role for KL Rahul at number six. He feels Rishabh Pant is best suited at number five. Rohit Sharma, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill and Virat Kohli form the top four.
“That is the place KL Rahul’s function additionally shall be essential as a result of he’s somebody who is were given the revel in in enjoying in SENA nations and he can bat lengthy. He has completed neatly in SENA nations. I think they’re having a look at KL Rahul at quantity 6 as neatly.
“By playing Rahul ahead of Sarfaraz in the current series (against Bangladesh), they are looking at a bigger picture. They want experience in number 6 when we tour Australia.
“As a result of in Australia enjoying at 6 you want to have excellent method whether or not it is going through the second one new ball or batting after an early cave in,” he said.
Vihari also thinks playing Australia in their own backyard will be the biggest thus far for Jaiswal, who has done well at home but is yet to prove himself in overseas conditions.
“It is his largest check. However he is an excessively assured man. Total going through Australia in Australia, psychological preparation is essential. This time we’re enjoying 5 Check suits in Australia in comparison to 4 previous.
“So it’s even more mentally draining Down Under because everything is against you. The media is against you, the people are against you and you are away from home facing Australian attack in Australia,” added Vihari, who stitched a fit saving stand with R Ashwin within the Sydney Check at the earlier excursion.
