Follow UsFormer England spinner Graeme Swann feels India should open with Cheteshwar Pujara if Rohit Sharma fails to recover from Covid in time for the Edgbaston Test, starting July. India have called up Mayank Agarwal as cover, but Swann feels Agarwal could slot in at No. 5 instead.
Pujara has been short of runs at in Tests and his last century for India came in 2019. He had an underwhelming tour of South Africa following which he was dropped for the home series against Sri Lanka.
However, he scored a couple of double tons and a century in the County Championship for Sussex which has earned him a return to the India squad. Swann feels Pujara's performance is a massive bonus for India heading into the deciding Test.
Pujara has opened for India on seven occasions and has amassed 395 runs at 98.75, which includes a century and a couple of fifties.
"Definitely having Cheteshwar Pujara played a lot of county cricket at the start of the year and do phenomenally well as he scored heaps of runs. He was phenomenal for Sussex, I think that is a massive bonus for India," Swann said according to News18.com.
"Having a player who has been in England at the start of the season when the ball swings around, scoring so heavily and used to English conditions that definitely gives him leg up the ladder."
Speaking of Agarwal, Swann said, “I really like Mayank Agarwal, he is a wonderful player. I don’t think he is someone who has to open the batting so I would happily see Pujara open the batting but it depends on Indian selectors if they want to or not and move everyone around him."
India lead the five-match series 2-1. The final Test in Manchester last year was called off due to a Covid outbreak in the Indian camp. India will play three T20Is and as many ODIs after the Edgbaston Test from July 7 onwards.