Backbone of Indian Cricket Team – Home / Cricket / ‘Pujara is the backbone of this team. Hope he’s resting, not down: Harbhajan’s stern ‘respect him’ message
The veteran off-spinner has arrived in support of former India off-spinner Cheteshwar Pujara after being left out of the Test squad for the WI tour.
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The BCCI on Friday announced the Test and ODI squads for next month’s tour of the West Indies and one of the main talking points was the absence of star batsman Cheteshwar Pujara in the longest format. Pujara, who has been one of the mainstays of the Test team for several years, was sidelined due to inconsistent performances when youngsters like Yashaswi Jaiswal and Ruturaj Gaikwad were called into the starting line-up.
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Pujara’s absence was expected by many; he averaged 32 in 17 Tests in the previous WTC cycle (2021-23). In fact, Pujara was also dropped from the squad ahead of the home series against Sri Lanka in February last year, but returned to the squad after featuring for Sussex in the county championship in July that year. However, former cricketer Harbhajan Singh strongly defended Pujara after she was dropped from the team, saying he hoped Pujara “rests” and doesn’t collapse.
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Harbhajan said other batsmen in India’s XI achieved similar figures to Pujara in last year’s WTC cycle and it was unfair to single out the 35-year-old batsman.
“I don’t have Cheteshwar Pujara to worry about. He was a big player for India. I hope he also gets a break and doesn’t drop. Pujara is the backbone of the team. If you leave him out, other batsmen are average. He wasn’t good either. How big a player you are.” Also, the standards should be the same for all players,” Harbhajan said on his official YouTube channel.
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“If you don’t consider Pujara as a key player…by that logic, others are not key players either. There should be no question mark on his career. India won the series in Australia and led in England. Played everywhere for India. Well, he contributed effectively. .He has not performed consistently in the last 1-1.5 years..but look at other batsmen.Same numbers.So singling him out is not right.
– He played 100 tests, he deserves respect. I hope there was communication between the appellants and Pujara before this decision. He still has a chance to perform in Test cricket,” Harbhajan said.
India will play two Tests followed by three ODIs in the West Indies. The squad is scheduled to play five T20Is against the Caribbean, but those squads will be announced at a later date.

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Newsletters, Alerts & Offers Get personalized news and interesting offers Bookmark stories you want to read late Home » Cricket Page » News » Reasons why Rohit Sharma is the backbone of Indian cricket team
After the first ODI win against England on Tuesday and the 2-1 T20I series win, Rohit Sharma’s need in the team has become clear. Here’s a look at why Rohit Sharma is good enough for Team India
It can go beyond just cricket. But the cost of Rohit Sharma’s absence from last winter’s South Africa Test series (due to injury) and last week’s Edgbaston Test against England (due to Covid) was all too apparent.
The authority, composure and control that an Indian captain brings to team campaigns usually has a significant impact on the tourists.
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After winning the Twenty20 series 2-1 on Sunday, the Indians were humbled in the opening match of the three-match series against England on Tuesday. After dismissing the hosts for 110, the visitors crossed the finish line unbeaten and won the game by 10 runs. This clearly showed India’s superiority over England.
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Currently, the skipper makes the final decision, although the coach and teammates are consulted on what the team should choose if they win the toss. The mantra in the just-concluded T20Is, played in the afternoon and evening, has been first and set the target.

The first ODI was also a day-night affair. The temperature was 32 degrees, sunny and cloudy, the latter. The pace was quick and the dry grass on top of him bound him, not helping any nasty seam movement.
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In hindsight, it’s easy for the experts to say that it makes no sense to go bowling first. But the ease with which Jonny Bairstow and Joe Root (both returned to the England XI for this match) bored the Indian fast bowlers at Edgbaston left the hosts with a psychological advantage. England have also been more effective in white-ball cricket than the red-ball format over the past seven years, including winning the 2019 World Cup.
Sharma’s faith in the fast bowlers was not misplaced. In the sweltering conditions brought on by the heat that gripped England, they confused the ball. Statistics collected by SKY showed that the white ball was never used at The Kia Oval (the venue of the match). It surpassed previous records by bending an average of 1.29 degrees. Given that none of the performers in India’s XI were classic swing bowlers, it showed just how much the natural atmosphere affects the sport.
There is no animated behavior or sleight of hand in Sharma’s direction. But Mumbai cricket oozes inner steel. He was misled by the media’s reaction to the likes of well-meaning Kapil Dev, who urged Virat Kohli (injured and therefore rested for this game) to introspect. It was very uncharacteristic of Sharma, who has been the PR face of Team India under Kohli.
But as a follower of the Delhi star, he walks the ropes of his young, apparently declining predecessor, one of the great batsmen of his generation. Damned if you resist him, damned if you don’t.
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The air environment was the same during India’s batting. But the experience of Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan shone through. Neither was good, especially left-handed. But since the request was so simple, they took their time and moved at a snail’s pace. Sharma’s unbeaten 76 off 58 balls said it all.
Continued dry surfaces as the hot weather intensifies could keep the spinners in the spotlight in the next ODI at Lord’s on Thursday.
(This story has not been edited by staff and has been published by syndicated news agency – IANS) Home / Cricket / ‘Who will play ludo in India?’: Virat Kohli echoes former Pakistan bowler Kapil Dev’s words and hits out at selectors.

‘Who will play ludo with Team India?’: Virat Kohli echoes Kapil Dev’s former Pakistan bowler hits out at selectors.
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A week ago, legendary Indian cricketer Kapil Dev had weighed in on the possibility of dropping Kohli from the T20I side. The former Pakistan cricketer repeated the same on Friday, slamming the BCCI selectors for not cooking the youngsters.
Virat Kohli’s place in the Indian team was once again in doubt after the former India skipper was dismissed for just 25 for 16 in the second ODI between India and England at Lord’s as the visitors lost by 100 runs. A week ago, legendary Indian cricketer Kapil Dev had weighed in on the possibility of dropping Kohli from the T20I side. Former Pakistan cricketer Danish Kaneria reiterated the same on Friday when he lashed out at the BCCI selectors for not cooking the youngsters.
Kohli also questioned Deepak Hooda’s absence from the squad if “world-class spinner” Ashwin could be dropped from India’s squad, Kuda Kaneria said. He also lashed out at the selectors of the Indian team for playing ‘ludo’ on players’ careers.
“When world class off-spinner Ashwin can be dropped, why where is Deepak Hooda and not Virat, why selection committee and management are playing with talented Indian cricketers. Who is playing Ludo with Indians and fans of Indian team Arshdeep, Deepak Hooda. And Surya is full of them that he is the pillar of Indian cricket. should give confidence,” Kaneria said on the Koo app.
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Apart from the aforementioned veteran cricketers, former India cricketers Venkatesh Prasad and Irfan Pathan have also raised questions about Kohli’s recent form when he is rested for the limited-overs tour of the West Indies starting later this month.
“He [Kohli] has played so many matches. He has been playing for so many years. He is such a great batsman that he doesn’t need insurance,” Rohit said at the post-match press conference on Thursday.
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