Cheteshwar Pujara, who knows a thing or two about grinding the Australian attack in their den, backs K L Rahul to bat at the vital number three slot in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. He says the swashbuckling Yashasvi Jaiswal is capable of doing what David Warner did in his prime.
'If Rohit wants to open, KL should bat at No. 3. Nothing later than that.'
The right-hander feels that keeping India's relatively inexperienced pace attack, aside from Jasprit Bumrah, on the field for as long as possible could be the key for the hosts in the five-Test series beginning in Perth on Friday.
Australia skipper Pat Cummins believes that the 2018-19 Test series loss to India was more hurtful than the 2020-21 debacle under his captaincy as the home team was simply outplayed in that engagement.
Pujara could get the selectors' nod if Ajit Agarkar and his team decide to fall back on his experience.
Images from Day 4 of the third Test between Australia and India in Brisbane on Tuesday.
'They need batters who can bat out a full session in Australia.' 'You have seniors like Pujara and Rahane, who are scoring runs in domestic cricket. They have experience of Australian conditions too.' 'They should be given a chance to make a comeback, no harm in trying especially when your batting line-up is not even lasting a full session.'
Ravi Shastri guided India to back-to-back series wins in Australia and his short advice to current head coach Gautam Gambhir is to "stay calm" over the course of five Tests Down Under and avoid knee-jerk reactions.
'Important things like concentration, having a balanced mind, staying calm at all times, all these important things he learnt from his mother.' Arvind Pujara, the master batsman's dad, has been much praised for instilling the right values in his only child, but he tells Rediff.com's Harish Kotian that it was his late mother Reena who is majorly responsible for Cheteshwar's success.
Gaikwad's supporters argue that his exclusion underscores inconsistencies in selection, with some feeling this sends a discouraging message to players trying to climb the ranks through domestic achievements.
After several losses in the early years of the new century, a resurgent India notched up two consecutive series wins in Australia to become the Aussies' nemesis.
Pace spearhead Harshit Rana received a well-deserved maiden call-up, following his impressive performances.
India will be under tremendous pressure when they face an equally circumspect Australia in a battle of two out-of-form batting units in the opening Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Perth
India batter Cheteshwar Pujara's unbeaten 104 helped Sussex extend their first innings lead to 111 runs in their County Championship Division Two match against Derbyshire on Saturday.
Those three wickets for six runs, in a manic final 15 minutes of the day's play, undid all the good work that had gone before, asserts Prem Panicker.
With an average of 65.17, he is only second behind Don Bradman.
The world's top two Test teams will clash in a five-match affair starting on November 22 in Perth and India will enter the contest having held the trophy for nearly a decade, which includes winning two consecutive series Down Under.
For India's current head coach, the Test series defeat against New Zealand at home, a first in 12 years and after 18 victories on the trot, would be a bitter pill to swallow.
Defending champions Mumbai got their Ranji Trophy campaign back on track with an emphatic nine-wicket win over Maharashtra in their second group A league game in Mumbai on Monday, offsetting the heavy loss to Baroda in the opening game.
Shreyas Iyer, Prithvi Shaw and Ajinkya Rahane flopped with the bat as defending champions Mumbai were shocked by Baroda by 84 runs.
As many as four world-class match-winners are expected to bid adieu to the game one by one in the next couple of years and Gautam Gambhir is in an unenviable position as head coach.
India's batting is a major concern with Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli struggling for runs ahead of the tour of Australia.
Round-up of the matches across various venues in the Ranji Trophy
"I would like those who are not playing IPL, especially Pujara, to go and play county cricket in England. He would encounter different types of wickets especially in April and May which will give good experience and exposure," Azhar said.
Eoin Morgan said the current Indian team ranks as "one of the greatest in their own conditions".
The national selectors want all the players to be available for the Duleep Trophy ahead of the two Test series against Bangladesh next month.
Day Two of the first Test between India and England brought bad news for the visitors. But Cheteshwar Pujara dominated all the headlines.
Tanush Kotian's five-wicket haul helped Mumbai bounce back as the visitors bowled out Baroda for 185 in their second innings.
Karsan Ghavri questions decision to ignore Pujara for England series
India head coach Gautam Gambhir, BCCI president Roger Binny and all-rounder Hardik Pandya led the long list of joyous members of the cricketing fraternity in lauding Jay Shah, who was on Tuesday elected unopposed as the ICC Chairman.
Arvind Pujara, in conversation with Haresh Pandya, discusses the rise of his son, Indian cricket's new star Cheteshwar.
'In the evening, he came to me, put a hand around me, and said: "Don't worry and don't be upset. The ball which did you in kept very low and even I might have got out playing it. Your chance will definitely come and I am sure you will excel."' Cheteshwar Pujara hails Sachin Tendulkar.
For one so young, Cheteshwar Pujara is extremely religious. He performs puja, meditates and lives a simple life despite being a celebrity. Haresh Pandya, who has known the batsman since he was a child, reveals the role his family and spirituality have played in his achievements.
Cheteshwar Pujara is confident that his scoring touch will return in the upcoming Test series against Australia in Adelaide.
'It'll be very much a battle again between the very good pace bowling attacks of both sides and how well the top order players of both sides can deal with the ball that will bounce, seam and probably swing a little bit more in the day-night game in Adelaide.'
Cheteshwar Pujara, who scored his maiden Test double century in India's mammoth first innings total against England, has said that missing out on a hundred in the warm-up game inspired him to score big in the first Test in Ahmedabad.
Cricket fraternity hails Gautam Gambhir appointment
Cheteshwar Pujara is gearing up for new challenge. The 25-year-old is a huge success on the Indian pitches and therefore this Saurashtra lad is looking ahead to the senior team's possible tour of South Africa followed by the confirmed visit to New Zealand.
Indian batting stalwart Virat Kohli and Australia's Steve Smith would be more than keen to stamp their authority in the upcoming Border-Gavaskar series in which runs would be "at a premium", feels Australian great Matthew Hayden.
Arvind Pujara, Cheteshwar Pujara's father, believes his son and Virat Kohli will bounce back.
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