After a historic Test series triumph Down Under, Team India are now gearing up to host England in a four-match Test series, starting February 5 in Chennai.
Ahead of the highly-anticipated series, India off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has challenged teammate Cheteshwar Pujara to step down the track and go over the top against any spinner.
In a chat with India's batting coach Vikram Rathour on his official YouTube channel, Ashwin said he will shave half his moustache and come out to play the game if Pujara completes the challenge.
"Will we ever see Pujara hit an off-spinner over the top?" Ashwin asked Rathour.
To which, the batting coach replied: "Work-in-progress. I'm trying to convince him that at least once go over the top. He is still not convinced, He is giving me great reasons."
Subsequently, Ashwin quipped: "If he goes over the top against Moeen Ali or any other spinner stepping down the wicket in this English series that we gonna play, I will take half my moustache out and come to play the game. This is an open challenge."
"That's a great challenge to put across. Let's hope that he takes it up. I don't think he will take it up," Rathour said.
Pujara has been in talks since his solid performance in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2020-21. He scored three fifties in the four-match series and ended with 271 runs.
His innings on the last day at the Gabba is getting appreciated a lot. Pujara had taken multiple blows on his body to ensure India stay in the chase and don't lose too many wickets. Eventually, they won the match to seal the series 2-1.
"Because for some reason you really sledge him. I don't know why. What the deal there? You really go after him all the time. And him being one of my favourite players in the team. I love his attitude. The way he bats, the way he prepares actually he is a coach's dream actually. So, I have to defend him against you. I think no praise is enough for the way he batted in the last Test match. The way he responded to all those short balls and all injuries that he had," Rathour said.
Ashwin then revealed why he sledges Pujara. He said: "Because what happens is, every time an opponent like Nathan Lyon is bowling, Pujji makes it so heart throbbing for me. Every time the ball goes up in the air, I am like 'You know what? Nobody plays like this man. You are making him look like unplayable.' And eventually, everybody will think that I'm not able to make the other batsmen bat like this."
"He does not. I mean, he handles him really, really well. And the numbers show that. he is averaging 50 plus against him. So, he has done well against him and that's his way of playing. He has a very set method. He is a stubborn character and that is his strength as well," Rathour said.
(With ANI inputs)
