AUS vs IND third Test | Pujara’s ‘lacklustre batting’ stored Australia within the recreation, says Ricky Ponting

Image Source : GETTY IMAGES Cheteshwar Pujara
Former Australia skipper Ricky Ponting has mentioned that Cheteshwar Pujara’s ‘lacklustre’ batting present on the third day stored the hosts within the recreation. While Pujara completed as India’s equal top-scorer with 50 alongside Shubman Gill, Ponting feels that the skilled campaigner wanted to vary his sluggish batting strategy on Day 3. 

Pujara, who had gained Man of the Series award in Australia again in 2018, scored 50 off 176 balls on the SCG earlier than he fell prey to Pat Cummins. Pujara’s defensive mindset backfired as India have been bundled out for 244 within the first innings. Cummins’s four-fer dismantled the hosts’ batting unit as they misplaced their final eight wickets for 148 runs within the first two periods.

“I think (Pujara) has got to be better than that,” Ponting instructed cricket.com.au.

“He’s 16 off his first 100 balls with no boundaries. That is – and I do not care who you might be – for those who’re on the different finish and somebody is batting like that, a lot extra strain comes again on you as a result of you already know it’s a must to be the one which’s going to maintain the scoreboard ticking over (and) making an attempt to get some momentum going your means as a group.

“If you are going to play that means and bat that lengthy, he is acquired to again himself to ensure he will get 100, 150 at the least. To bat like he did in the present day, lastly get a terrific ball from (quick bowler Pat) Cummins, though he acquired 50, he simply hadn’t damage the Australians in any respect.

“In fact, batting like he did actually kept Australia in the game. Although Pujara got the 50 that he got, he’s as guilty as anyone for slack, lacklustre batting,” Ponting additional mentioned.

The Aussies first secured a 94-run lead and stretched it to 197 by posting 103/2 within the second innings. Pujara has now been dismissed by Cummins 4 out of the 5 occasions on this collection. In his underwhelming stint to date, the right-hander has managed to attain simply 113 in 5 innings at a median of twenty-two.6