Since that 193 against Australia in Sydney in January 3, 2019, Cheteshwar Pujara has gone 40 innings without a century in Test cricket, averaging only 28.61 since that phenomenal tour Down Under. And who else other than his predecessor and present head coach Rahul Dravid can get him out of this lean phase as the two were spotted during India's indoor practice session in Mumbai ahead of the second Test against New Zealand on Thursday.
BCCI on Thursday shared pictures from India's training session with the caption, "Prep in full swing. #TeamIndia gearing up for the 2nd #INDvNZ Test!" Captain Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane and Shubman Gill were spotted batting while veteran wicketkeeper Wriddhiman Saha was seen having a chat with young KS Bharat.
Pujara did score 11 half-centuries during this phase a gutsy 221-ball 54 in Christchurch against New Zealand in 2020, four others during the 2020/21 Australia tour where he faced 1366 deliveries and a 275-ball 91 in Leeds against England in August 2021.
{{/usCountry}}Pujara did score 11 half-centuries during this phase a gutsy 221-ball 54 in Christchurch against New Zealand in 2020, four others during the 2020/21 Australia tour where he faced 1366 deliveries and a 275-ball 91 in Leeds against England in August 2021.
{{/usCountry}}However, following his scores of 22 and 26 in the Kanpur Test, many believe that he might be dropped form India's Test side if the phase continues. But Pujara, along with vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane, have the backing of the team, as admitted by India's newly-appointed bowling coaching Paras Mhambrey on Wednesday.
"I think both with Ajinkya Rahane and Cheteshwar Pujara, they have enough experience behind them. They have played enough cricket and we also know as a team that they are one inning away from coming back into form. As a team, everyone is behind them and backing them. We know the value they bring to the team. They have played enough cricket to understand what is expected out of them," Mhambrey said.