Sanjay Manjrekar suggests Cheteshwar Pujara as an opener for MCG Test

The Indian team management might be having a challenging time as they to finalise the openers for the second Test match. This will be a crucial Test match against Australia at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). Although Mayank Agarwal is confirmed to open in the game, there is no clarity about who will partner him. Prithvi Shaw, who has been out of form, is unlikely to get a chance after his misery performance in the first Test. He was out for 0 and 4 in both the innings.

The 21-year-old failed to impress in the four games, but still, the management showed faith in him. However, he was unable to justify the trust, and he flopped in both the innings of the Adelaide Test. There have been demands from the entire cricket fraternity to replace him with Shubman Gill. Gill was quite impressive during the warm-up games.

However, it is not going to be very surprising if team India decides against giving Gill a chance for the crucial game. It could mostly be because of his inexperience as the youngster is yet to make his Test debut. There are other options like KL Rahul in the playing eleven. However, Hanuma Vihari can also take up the role as an opener like the previous tour of Australia.

Sanjay Manjrekar’s suggestion for the upcoming MCG test

It is just a matter of time when the Indian team will disclose who opens India’s innings against Australia in the MCG Test. Before the much-awaited encounter, Sanjay Manjrekar has come up with one more suggestion for the opener’s slot. The commentator believes that Cheteshwar Pujara can be a good option for the place. He further reckoned that there is not much difference in conditions for an opener or the Number 3 batsman.

Sanjay Manjrekar further indicated that promoting Pujara as an opener could make his life more comfortable. It can increase the chances of India for getting a good start.

Pujara is has opened for India on a few occasions earlier. To date, the 32-year-old has opened in 4 Tests and has a remarkable record. Pujara has smashed 348 runs in those four matches. He has also hit a century and two fifties.

Cheteshwar Pujara has been batting at number 3 for India in Tests for quite some time now. He has proved to be one of the finest batsmen for the team in the most extended format. Pujara was the highest scorer with 521 runs in 4 games when India won the Test series in Australia on the 2018-19 tour.

In the ongoing series, Cheteshwar Pujara has so far scored 43 runs. He is going to be very crucial in the remaining series.

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