Veteran India batter Cheteshwar Pujara has come out in support of Sai Sudharsan and Karun Nair, who were tried at number three during India’s recent Test series in England. While both struggled to make a significant impact with the bat, Pujara believes they need more time and experience to grow into the role.
Sudharsan played three matches and scored 140 runs at an average of 23.33, including one fifty-plus score. Karun, on the other hand, played four innings and made 111 runs at an average of 27.75, with a highest score of 40.
“Look, young players need a little time to mature. Sai Sudharsan has shown potential — he has performed once. Karun Nair has also performed,” Pujara said in his interview with India Today. “So gradually, as they gain experience, their game will continue to improve. You can’t expect every player to score two or three hundreds each time, especially as they are young — they need time. And this is a good phase the Indian team is going through — because it was a tough series, and managing to draw it 2-2 shows that every player contributed. So moving forward, this team will definitely perform well.”
Pujara also praised captain Shubman Gill and head coach Gautam Gambhir for leading the young side effectively.
“The team has won many sessions. So, if we talk only about this series — yes, it ended in a draw — but in my opinion, it’s nothing less than a win. This is a victory for the Indian team. Indian cricket is in the right hands, and the way all the young players are performing is very promising,” emphasised Pujara.
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