3 Players Who Can Replace Cheteshwar Pujara At No. 3 vs West Indies

image-ljckq8g0Yashasvi Jaiswal is the frontrunner to replace Cheteshwar Pujara at No. 3 (Twitter)

A striking change rocked the Indian cricket fraternity as the selectors decided to unleash a bombshell by dropping veteran batter, Cheteshwar Pujara, from the Indian Test squad for the highly anticipated two-match series against West Indies which also marks India’s inaugural assignment of the World Test Championship 2023-25.

3 players who could replace Cheteshwar Pujara at No. 3 vs West Indies

Pujara, known for his ability to stand tall like a rock at the crucial number 3 position, has been a linchpin of India's Test batting line-up for the past decade. With his absence now leaving a gaping void, the hunt is on to find the perfect replacement who can seamlessly step into his shoes and anchor the Indian innings against the fiery West Indian pace attack.

In this listicle, OneCricket brings you an in-depth analysis of three players who have what it takes to replace the seasoned Pujara at the vital number 3 slot in the upcoming Tests against the West Indies.

1. Ishan Kishan

In a surprising yet potentially fruitful move, India might consider deploying a wicket-keeper batter at the coveted number 3 position, a departure from conventional strategies. One promising candidate who fits the bill is Ishan Kishan. While it may be true that Kishan's experience in red-ball cricket is limited, his exceptional performances in white-ball formats demonstrate his capabilities as a batter.

Moreover, his noteworthy statistics in first-class cricket further bolster his case. With 2985 runs under his belt from 48 matches at an average of 38.76, including six centuries and 16 fifties, Kishan demonstrates the requisite skills and temperament to excel in Test cricket.

image-ljckt6sxIshan Kishan (BCCI Twitter)

Additionally, the inclusion of Kishan as a wicket-keeper would open the door for Ravichandran Ashwin to feature in the playing XI. With KS Bharat's underwhelming performances with both the bat and gloves, the presence of Kishan behind the stumps provides an opportunity to strengthen the team by including the spin maestro Ashwin.




2. Ruturaj Gaikwad

Ruturaj Gaikwad has garnered widespread recognition and admiration thanks to his fireworks while opening the batting for the Chennai Super Kings in the Indian Premier League. The right-handed prodigy has enthralled audiences with his elegant stroke play, employing textbook-perfect shots that reflect his solid grounding in the fundamentals of batting. Gaikwad's skill extends beyond his ability to handle pace bowling with finesse; his exceptional technique against spinners further establishes him as a complete batsman.

While Gaikwad's numbers in first-class cricket may not be as dazzling as some of his counterparts, they are undeniably commendable. With 1941 runs from 28 matches at an average of 42.2, including six centuries and nine fifties, Gaikwad has shown his capability to build substantial innings and deliver match-winning performances.

image-ljcktu4lRuturaj Gaikwad (Instagram)

As the West Indies tour looms on the horizon, the talented cricketer from Maharashtra stands on the brink of a potential opportunity to fill Cheteshwar Pujara's vital number 3 position for years to come.

3. Yashasvi Jaiswal

Yashasvi Jaiswal's magnificent performance in the IPL 2023 season has catapulted him into the limelight and also paved the way for his selection in the Indian team for the two-match Test series vs West Indies. The talented left-handed batsman scored a stunning 625 runs in just 14 games to go with five half-centuries and a breath-taking century. Moreover, his exploits in domestic cricket further cement his stature as one of the premier performers in recent times.

image-ljcmflxv

Jaiswal's remarkable consistency shines through his domestic record where he has scored 1,845 runs in 15 matches, boasting an impressive average of 80.21 and a strike rate of 67.48. The young Mumbai prodigy's ability to convert starts into big innings is truly commendable, having notched nine centuries and two half-centuries.

While Jaiswal has primarily operated as an opener in domestic cricket, the well-established partnership between Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill presents an opportunity for him to slot into the crucial number 3 position for India.