IND vs ENG 3rd Test – Indian Playing XI: The voices to drop Cheteshwar Pujara from the Indian playing XI for the Headingley Test is growing. Former Indian cricketer Farokh Engineer and former Pakistan opener Salman Butt have declared that their choice in XI would be Suryakumar Yadav in place of Pujara.
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Pujara has just scored 70 Runs in 4 innings @ 23.33 and is struggling for big score now for quite some time. According to Engineer captain Virat Kohli now needs to take a tough call.
Suryakumar Yadav has seen his career graph going upwards ever since he made his debut against England at home in the T20Is. He performed well in the Sri Lanka tour, earning him the Test call up. With Pujara struggling Farokh Engineer has batted for his inclusion.
“Firstly, I am a huge fan of Suryakumar Yadav. I think he is a class player. I would certainly prefer him to Pujara or Rahane in playing XI. They are class players, very good players, but Suryakumar Yadav is a match-winner,” Farokh Engineer told Sports Tak.
IND vs ENG 3rd Test: With Suryakumar Yadav in, voice for him to replace Pujara grows; Will captain Kohli take the tough call?
According to Engineer, Surya is a very positive player and can will the match for India on his onw.
“I think Suryakumar should certainly be in the team. He is an aggressive player; he will get you a quick hundred, a quick 70-80. He is a fabulous batsman, fabulous fielder, and a wonderful human being as well,” Farokh Engineer added.
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IND vs ENG 3rd Test: Should Suryakumar Yadav make his Test debut in place of Pujara?
Suryakumar Yadav making Test debut in place of Cheteshwar Pujara has pros and cons both. The Mumbai batsman last played red-ball cricket back in the 2020 Ranji Trophy season and has been seen as a white-ball cricketer. Although he did well, scoring 508 runs in 10 innings at an average of 56.44 including two centuries and two half-centuries, it came one and a half years ago.
Furthermore, he doesn’t have experience playing in English conditions — something that even Virat Kohli struggled with. Hence, throwing him against seaming conditions against James Anderson could backfire for Team India.
IND vs ENG 3rd Test: The point in favour of him is giving India middle-order a breath of fresh air. Suryakumar is in prime form and can accelerate quickly, take on the England bowlers especially with the Headingley pitch predicted to be dry.
- Suryakumar Yadav is in the best form of his life.
- He has scored 124 runs at an average of 62.00 in the ODIs and 139 runs in three innings in the T20Is at an average of 46.33. In the IPL 2021. In both formats, he has a strike rate of over 100.
- In First-Class cricket, the Mumbai batsman has an average of 44.01 in 77 matches including 14 centuries and 26 fifties.
- In the last Ranji Trophy, Suryakumar scored 508 runs in 10 innings at an average of 56.44 including two centuries and as many fifties.
- With Cheteshwar Pujara struggling, India can benefit from his inclusion. Pujara’s slow and ultra-defensive approach has cons as it nearly cost India the match in the 2nd But Suryakumar can score quick runs and put England bowlers off guard.
- His inclusion could take the pressure off Rahane, who can play more freely. A break for Pujara could also help him get his form back.
- However, Pujara scored a gutsy 45 runs in the 2nd Test and that could be the beginning of his return to form.
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“Pujara is struggling. The conditions are also tough. If India want, they can give Suryakumar Yadav a chance. It all depends on what Virat Kohli thinks, what the coach thinks. As of now, three innings have been played. I feel it is too early to bring in a youngster in such testing conditions. It will be a really tough task for him. Pujara, on the other hand, is dependable and he has performed before in these conditions. He has failed so far but let’s give him one more Test,” Salman Butt said.
