'Learn from Cheteshwar Pujara And Shreyas Iyer': Rohit Sharma's Honest Advice To Faltering India Batters After Loss

03.03.2023 - 11:29 sports.ndtv.com

India skipper Rohit Sharma has advised the team's batters to learn from Shreyas Iyer and Cheteshwar Pujara on how to bat on a rank turner like Indore pitch.

India failed in batting as the side scored only 272 runs across its two innings in the third Test in Indore that it lost by 9 wickets.

While the Rohit-led side scored 109 runs in its first innings, it was bundled out for 163 in the second innings, which failed to stop Australia from winning the game.

Rohit said there was a lot to learn from Cheteshwar Pujara and Shreyas Iyer who batted in contrasting styles to take the team past 150 in the second innings.

cricket 2023 loss Nathan Lyon Rohit Sharma Shreyas Iyer Cheteshwar Pujara Australia India

Shubman Gill and Cheteshwar Pujara both turned bowlers for India in the final overs on Day 5 of the fourth Test match against Australia in Ahmedabad on Monday. With the match headed for a draw, India skipper Rohit Sharma opted for unconventional bowling choices, but the duo did not disappoint as commentators were left impressed by their discipline. While Shubman Gill kept bowling on the stumps with his off-spin, Pujara's action and bowling style reminded former India skipper Sunil Gavaskar of legendary Australia spinner Shane Warne. Both players bowled one over each in the final session.

How Bad Was Shreyas Iyer's Injury? Rohit Sharma Shares Grave Observation

Shreyas Iyer's recurring lower back injury "isn't looking good at the moment", said India captain Rohit Sharma, who couldn't set a timeframe on the stylish right-hander's comeback to competitive cricket. Besides the upcoming three-match ODI series against Australia, Iyer could also miss the IPL for Kolkata Knigt Riders, a franchise he leads in the cash-rich league. Iyer, who was part of the playing XI, couldn't come out to bat during the Indian innings on the best batting surface after his right lower back problems resurfaced after fielding for more than 167 overs during the Australian innings.

Ravichandran Ashwin's Hilarious Reaction To Cheteshwar Pujara's Bowling Leaves Everyone In Splits

It was a rare sight on Monday as Cheteshwar Pujara was introduced into the bowling attack by India skipper Rohit Sharma. It was the final overs on Day 5 of the fourth Test match in Ahmedabad and the match was clearly headed towards a draw. Pujara bowled a tidy over and ended up conceding just one run which was lauded by the commentators. Pujara had a clean bowling action and former Indian cricket team skipper Sunil Gavaskar remarked on commentary that his bowling style even resembled the Australia great Shane Warne. Ravichandran Ashwin also had a brilliant reaction to his bowling.

Watch: Virat Kohli Turns Virtual 'Vice-Captain' As Rohit Sharma, Axar Patel Devise Strategy

With no vice-captain being assigned for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in the Indian team, Rohit Sharma has been seeking advise from the senior players in the team. Earlier, it was Cheteshwar Pujara who handled the team's captaincy for a brief period while Rohit Sharma was off the ground. On Day 5 against Australia, Virat Kohli acted as a virtual ‘vice-captain', helping Rohit devise a strategy with Axar Patel as India looked to get the better of Australian batters in the morning session of the Ahmedabad Test.

Sunil Gavaskar Expects Rohit Sharma, Cheteshwar Pujara To " Break A Few Things". Here's Why

After Australia posted a massive total of 480 in the first innings, Shubman Gill led India's charge with a century on Day 3 of the ongoing fourth Test at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. However, the likes of Rohit Sharma (35) and Cheteshwar Pujara (42) missed out on opportunities to notch up big scores. While Rohit threw away his wicket after a lapse in concentration, Pujara too failed to capitalise on his good start. Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar, who is part of the commentary team for the ongoing series, shared his views on both the players.

Here's Why Shreyas Iyer Did Not Come Out To Bat In 4th Test vs Australia

India batter Shreyas Iyer did not walk out to bat after Cheteshwar Pujara was dismissed on Day 3 of the ongoing fourth Test against Australia. Instead, Ravindra Jadeja was promoted up the order. Similarly, on Day 4, wicketkeeper-batter KS Bharat joined Virat Kohli in the middle after Jadeja got out, following a bizarre shot-selection. Now, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has provided an update of Shreyas. The 28-year-old has picked up lower back pain and has been taken for scans.