IND vs NZ LIVE: 1059 days and counting, Cheteshwar Pujara’s century drought continues, fails at home – A return home hasn’t brought out the desired result for Cheteshwar Pujara as his struggles continued with the bat. One of the only two senior batsmen in the side and the vice-captain for the IND vs NZ 1st Test, Pujara had yet another low score on a pitch good for batting in Kanpur on Thursday. Follow IND vs NZ LIVE Updates on Insidesport.in
IND vs NZ LIVE: 1059 days and counting, Cheteshwar Pujara’s century drought continues, fails at home
Cheteshwar Pujara last scored a century for India back in January 2019 and the wait has continued despite the Indian team returning home for a two-match series against New Zealand. Appointed vice-captain, the onus was on the Saurashtra batsman to make it count especially in the absence of as many as six first-team players.
Pujara however failed to do, departing after his typical languid innings soon after lunch to put India in a spot of bother. India’s No.3 batted for almost 15 overs on the pitch but could manage only 26, before poking at a Tim Southee delivery to conjure his dismissal. The edge was safely caught by keeper Tom Blundell reducing India to 106/3 on Day 1.
IND vs NZ LIVE: 1059 days and counting, Cheteshwar Pujara’s century drought continues, fails at home
Cheteshwar Pujara has scored six half-centuries this year, but his lack of consistency and constant up and down nature of form has raised questions on his place in the side. Pujara scored two half-centuries in Australia, but struggled since then, including in the World test Championship against New Zealand. His form did not improve on the tour of England, though he came close to ending his century drought, scoring 91 in the fourth Test.
With Shubman Gill and Shreyas Iyer scoring half-centuries during the IND vs NZ 1st Test and fighting for the middle-order spots, Pujara will have to pull his socks up if he has to maintain his place in the side. Hanuma Vihari, currently with the India A team is also an option for the Rahu; Dravid led management, and India’s No.3 is currently walking on thin ice.
