Former India opener Wasim Jaffer wants Virat Kohli and Cheteshwar Pujara to come back stronger in the Christchurch Test starting Saturday (February 29) against New Zealand.
He further said that it will be extremely difficult for the visitors to bounce back from the harrowing Wellington defeat unless the Indian batsman builds on their starts and put a big total on the board in the second and final Test against New Zealand.
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Jaffer said, “Virat has a lean patch for a while, so I am expecting him to come back stronger. Pujara needs some runs under his belt. Most importantly they need to convert their starts into three figures if that doesn't happen and if we don't put a score of 350-400 runs then it is difficult.”
He continued, “In 200-250 (runs) you can't win a Test match unless there is much help from the pitch. When we bat first or bat second, we need to score 400-450 runs.”
The domestic stalwart also said that India getting bundled out for below 200 in the first Test was not really match its status as the number one rank in the longest format of the game.
Jaffer further said, “They kept our run-rate in check and kept our batsmen under pressure for long periods. I felt that in the first innings the conditions were favorable for bowlers, but they worked out a strategy of bouncers and we should have batted better in the second innings. To get out both times under 200 is unlike the number one Test team.”
However, he was confident that India will bounce back in the final Test, adding: “There is no doubt that India will come back hard in the next Test (at Christchurch), which they should, and they have always done that in the past. Whenever they have been put under pressure, they have bounced back very strongly. I'm expecting the same thing.”
He also suggested India should to Shubman Gill or Prithvi Shaw a chance in the Christchurch Test.
Jaffer signed off by saying, “Rohit is not there and he is a seasoned player and India actually missed him. Anybody who gets a chance, Shubhman or Prithvi, it's a crucial very test match for them.”
(With PTI Inputs)
