Cheteshwar Pujara And Ajinkya Rahane Don’t Give Confidence Anymore: Maninder Singh

Former India cricketer Maninder Singh expressed his disappointment over the Indian team’s batting performance, especially with Test vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane, in the third Test at Headingley.

On Wednesday, India were bowled out for 78 after they won the toss and decided to bat first. England bowlers led by James Anderson were in a different mood, looking to avenge the humiliation they faced at Lord’s more than a week ago.

Anderson picked three wickets in the first hour of the play, KL Rahul, Cheteshwar Pujara, and skipper Virat Kohli poked Anderson’s moving balls as India lost the momentum of their 151-run victory against England at Lord’s a week before.

The kind of half-century Ajinkya Rahane had struck at Lord’s, it felt he would come out to bat with confidence: Maninder Singh

Rohit Sharma’s 19 runs from 105 balls was the top score for India with Ajinkya Rahane scoring 18 runs, the second-best on a scoresheet where eight batsmen were dismissed for a single-digit score. Rahane, who scored 61 at Lord’s in a difficult position, seemed to revive India’s innings along with Rohit, but he fell to Ollie Robinson at the stroke of lunch.

Maninder said that Pujara and Rahane are not giving the team any kind of confidence and he was not pleased with Rahane, as he hoped the Mumbai batsman to be confident after his Lord’s innings in the second Test.

“Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane don’t give confidence anymore. The kind of half-century that Rahane had struck at Lord’s, it felt he would come out to bat with confidence,” Maninder told ESPNcricinfo.

“But as soon as he came at the crease, he was defensive. Pujara too was over-defensive and that is why he is troubled on such pitches because if you miss out on run-scoring opportunities, you will get a delivery that will get you out,” he added.

I felt Indian batsmen were overconfident and it was as if they were playing on Indian pitches: Maninder Singh

Maninder said there was nothing wrong with India opting to bat first but the batters played loose shots which cost them the innings and the former cricketer felt that Indian batsmen were overconfident as if they were playing at home.

“You elected to bat first but then played loose shots. I felt Indian batsmen were overconfident and it was as if they were playing on Indian pitches. Pitches in England always have seam movement on Day 1 for the first two hours. So that is where India made a mistake. It was very disappointing to see the way they played,” Maninder said.

India are currently leading 1-0 in the five-match Test series.

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