Asked Pujara to shift gears while batting - Kohli

 

New Delhi: Indian test skipper Virat Kohli on Monday admitted that he had a discussion with Cheteshwar Pujara asking him to accelerate his strike rate after a disappointing performance in West Indies.

Former chief selector Sandeep patil on ABP news on Sunday revealed that coach Anil Kumble and Virat Kohli were unhappy with Pujara’s speed and advised him to add some quick runs.

The discussion with the coach and skipper has worked out well with the Pujara who scored 62 run in 146 balls in 1st innings and 78 runs in 219 balls in the 2nd innings against New Zealand with a strike rate of 53.63 runs.

After the West Indies tour, Cheteshwar Pujara played in Duleep Trophy scoring 166 off 288 and 256 off 363 with an improved strike rate in both the innings. Pujara, before the Kanpur test played three matches in 2016 scoring 62 runs with a strike rate of 27.43 runs.

"Pujara is someone who absorbs the pressure really well but after a certain stage in the innings there comes a time when the team needs runs," Kohli said at the end of the Kanpur Test. "That's where we felt that he has the ability to capitalise. It was just about conveying that to him. He has worked hard on his game.”

Sandeep Patil on ABP News said, “coach Anil Kumble and skipper Virat Kohli were unhappy with Pujara’s performances in the Caribbean and advised the player to work on improving his strike rate.”

“This transformation can be compared to hindi blockbuster ‘Ram aur Shyam’. Who we saw in West Indies was Ram and who we saw in the 1st test against New Zealand was Shyam” added Sandeep Patil.