Cheteshwar Pujara: 'Kohli, Rohit's Retirements Will Bring Young Players Together'
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Most of the OGs of post-2010 Indian Test cricket are gone. But can that help the new Shubman Gill-led group to bind together more strongly in England? We asked Cheteshwar Pujara.
The last time India won a Test in England — Oval, 2021 — the youngest batter in the top six was 29 years old, KL Rahul. The other five were among the OGs of the post-2010 generation of Indian Test cricket: Captain Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane and Ravindra Jadeja.
As India are set to travel to the UK again in the summer, only Rahul and Jadeja remain. Kohli and Rohit announced their Test retirements earlier this month, while Pujara and Rahane have been phased out. The 'transition' that many wished to never see is here, under a 25-year-old new captain, Shubman Gill.
Expectedly, such leadership handovers are treated with gloom and sad nostalgia. Not many know more about that than Pujara, who was a key cog in the Indian team when the previous generation were seeing the last of Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, Sourav Ganguly and VVS Laxman.
However, like Pujara did, it's an opportunity for the youngsters to break through as rays of hope. On Sunday, News18 CricketNext asked the former number three batter whether, without the shadows of the greats that preceded them, this new generation of Indian cricketers can bind together more strongly in England.
'Well, I've played with some of these players and I'm sure all these young players are focusing on the team's success," Pujara said during a call organized by Sony Sports network, the official broadcaster of the India tour of England. 'So this will definitely bring all the young players together. When you have a great opportunity like this, you come together as a team, you look different on the field. Because when you have seniors and juniors, there are times when you might have a little bit of difference of opinion, because the seniors have played a lot more. Now, there are no seniors and juniors in this team, so everyone has to come together. Everyone needs to support each other."
'See, honestly, guys will have a tough time," Pujara said. 'It won't be easy. Even if we win a Test match, the team has to work hard to earn those victories. So everyone has to contribute to the team's success. Everyone has to contribute, even to prepare well, even to strategize how we can be successful. So there, there will be. I'm sure Shubman is captain, but at the same time, you have senior players, someone who is experienced enough, someone like KL, someone like Jasprit (Bumrah), Rishabh Pant. Everyone will have to contribute to the team's cause. They will have to guide Shubman at different stages."
The five-Test series begins on June 20 in Headingley. An India 'A' tour starting on May 30 will set the scene for the rubber.
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