• Home
  • Who Said What
  • No One In The Team Can Do What Pujara Did Aakash Chopra Blasts India After Series Defeat Vs Nz

'No One In The Team Can Do What Pujara Did' - Aakash Chopra Blasts  India After Series Defeat vs NZ

Cheteshwar Pujara -(Source: @Johns/X.com)Cheteshwar Pujara -(Source: @Johns/X.com)

Rohit Sharma's India are under heavy criticism since they suffered their first home series defeat in 12 years. On Saturday, October 26, New Zealand handed India a 113-run -defeat in the second Test at the MCA stadium in Pune to clinch the series 2-0 with a game left to play. 

For the first time since 2012, India lost a Test series at home. Also, it was the first time the hosts lost a Test series at home against New Zealand. Talking about the match, batting was the biggest disappointment as India failed to chase down 359 runs in the second innings and tumbled for just 245 runs. 

Aakash Chopra Backs Pujara To Be Back In The Team

Meanwhile, former India opener turned analyst Aakash Chopra opined the need for Cheteshwar Pujara in the side and remarked that the side is missing a player like the Saurashtra-based cricketer as he is defensive in his approach. 

"Are we missing Pujara? It's a big question actually. As a player, you might say that he would score these many runs and others would also score as many runs, so are you missing him that much? Maybe not, because at some stage you have to move beyond everyone. So you left Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane in such a scenario," he said.

"You got Shubman Gill and Rishabh Pant started playing at No. 5. So things changed a lot. Change is the rule of nature but one thing is definitely missing. No one in this team can do what Cheteshwar Pujara used to do. Everyone plays the same brand of cricket, that they would attack and play aggressive cricket, and have nothing to do with a draw as they play like this only. That does not work," Chopra added.

Pujara Shines In Domestic Circuit

The 36-year-old, who last played for India in June 2023, recently smashed a double hundred in the Ranji Trophy and knocked on the selector's door for a place in the Indian side. 

Recently, the Indian team announced the squad for the upcoming five-match Test series against Australia and Pujara failed to find a place and would have to wait longer to return to the Indian set-up.