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3 Indian Players Who Can Succeed Cheteshwar Pujara To Become The Next Wall
Follow UsCheteshwar Pujara never made India miss Dravid. Can India now find someone to replace him?
Number three is probably the toughest place to bat in Test cricket after opening, because not only do the batters have to have the skills to survive the new ball, they also have innings-building skills.
In that regard, India were blessed to have Rahul Dravid and Cheteshwar Pujara bat at that position for the entire first quarter of the 21st century for India. However, with Pujara’s retirement, the baton has to be passed forward. Let’s look at three such options who can succeed Pujara as the next ‘Wall’ in Team India.
Sai Sudharsan
Technique. Run accumulation prowess. Temperament.
Sudharsan, still 23, has all three key requisites to bat at number three for India. Probably that’s why he was given the opportunity to bat at that number in the series against England.
While he looked out of sorts on a few occasions, he did show enough class with a score of 61 that he does have the skills to bat at that position. Moreover, he’s a left-hander and India would love to have a leftie bat in the top order in Test cricket for them.
Washington Sundar
Just like Sudharsan, Sundar also has the technique and the temperament required to bat at number three in Test cricket. While he hasn’t done that so far, his resolute batting down the order and the tenacity he has shown so far to occupy the crease augur him really well to take that spot.
Meanwhile, playing Sundar as a proper number three batter would also ensure India will be much more balanced as a team, as he’ll also give them his off-spin overs. The upcoming home Tests against West Indies would be a good occasion for India to test him at that spot.
Abhimanyu Easwaran
Easwaran has been a part of the Indian Test squads and A tours for so long that it's really tragic that he has yet to make his Test debut for India. The Bengal batter averages 48.7 in first-class cricket and has a proven pedigree where his technique has been tested in most kinds of overseas conditions.
He is a sedate accumulator who can bring a sense of calm to the crease, something which is crucial for a number three batter. Considering Pujara was also a right-hander, Easwaran can directly slot in that number. However, he needs to be given ample opportunities to prove himself at that number, as he is an opener.