India's batting let them down as the visitors lost the first Test against England at Edgbaston by 31 runs. Other than Virat Kohli no other Indian batsmen performed for the side. India did miss the solid presence of Cheteshwar Pujara who was kept out of the side for match.
West Indian great Michael Holding said that India should never have left out Pujara from the playing XI.
“One thing I would like to see India do is … find a way to get Pujara into this team,” Holding told Sky Sports. “I do not understand how they are so reluctant to play Pujara. He’s too good a player.”
Pujara, the No. 6 ranked Test player, was left out of the playing XI while Shikhar Dhawan who had scored 'a pair' in the warm up game was included. KL Rahul batted at number 3 for India in the match. Dhawan managed scores of 26 and 13, Rahul could only add four and 13.
“If Kohli had no form, would they leave him out? I’m not saying Pujara is as good as Kohli because Kohli is way above everyone else. But when you have (for example) a Rahul Dravid, a VVS Laxman or a Sourav Ganguly who is not in excellent form, do you leave them out? No,” said Holding.
Holding suggested that India should play Pujara in the second Test, starting on August 9 at Lord’s, in place of allrounder Hardik Pandya.
“Pandya, it seems as if he’s the golden boy in this team. Everyone thinks he’s going to be the next Kapil Dev. He hasn’t shown that yet."
“Why not pick a batsman (instead)? Pandya got a few runs in the second innings but is he a better batsman than Pujara? I don’t think so, and you don’t need him as a bowler in my eyes,” added Holding.
