3 players who could replace Cheteshwar Pujara at No.3 for the Sri Lanka Test series
Pujara has jostled for form over the last 12 months
When Cheteshwar Pujara forayed into Test cricket, he was deemed to be an apt replacement for Rahul Dravid. Pujara didn’t flatter to deceive and showed a lot of determination during his stays in the middle.
But in the last 12 months, the right-hander has jostled for form. He hasn’t scored runs frequently, and his failures have put pressure on the rest of the batting unit. There have been calls to replace Cheteshwar Pujara in the eleven.
Let’s look at three players who can replace Cheteshwar Pujara for the Sri Lanka Tests
1. Abhimanyu Easwaran
Abhimanyu Easwaran has been a consistent performer in India’s domestic cricket since he made his debut back in 2013. The southpaw plays for Bengal in Ranji cricket and has notched 4606 runs from 67 matches at an average of 43.45 with a top score of 233.
With 14 centuries and 19 fifties under his belt, the 26-year-old Bengal batter has come up the ranks. Recently, he racked up 205 runs while playing for India A against South Africa. In the first game, Easwaran also scored a century at the Mangaung Oval.
2. Priyank Panchal
The fact that her has played 100 first-class games shows the experience Priyank Panchal has in top level cricket. Having racked up over 7000 runs with 24 centuries and 25 half-centuries, the right-hander has given an account of his skills time and again.
Recently, he was called up to the Indian squad after Rohit Sharma missed out from the South Africa Tests due to a hamstring injury. Although he didn’t play a game, he’d be hard done by if he goes out of contention. He has the potential to replace Cheteshwar Pujara in the Sri Lanka Test series
3. Shubman Gill
Shubman Gill has already played 10 Tests for Team India and has the experience of facing the music in the purest format. The 91-run knock he played in the final day of the iconic Gabba Test last yet remains his most memorable in his short Test career.
But he’s blown a tad hot and cold since then. In 33 first-class matches, the Fazilka-born Gill has scored, 2828 runs at an average of 56.56 with a top score of 268. It shows that he can put his head down for big knocks if the situation demands him to do so.
