‘This is not knowing where your off-stump is’ – Ravi Shastri’s bold statement on Cheteshwar Pujara’s dismissal during WTC final 2023
Cheteshwar Pujara (left) and Ravi Shastri (right) (Source: Twitter)
Team India is currently locking horns with Australia in the World Test Championship (WTC) final at Southampton’s Kennington Oval, in London. After losing the toss, Australia scored a total of 469 runs, with the help of centuries from Travis Head and Steve Smith. India, while chasing a mammoth total amassed by Australia, the top order struggled and fell in the evening session of day two. The likes of Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Chetesheshwar Pujara got dismissed cheaply and went back to the pavilion.
The Australian bowlers were on the mark from the first over. The Indian batters struggled against them and gave away wickets in ordinary fashion. Two of the Indian batters, Gill and Pujara got dismissed as they left the ball which was coming straight on the stumps. The former India head coach, Ravi Shastri was not happy seeing these dismissals and lashed out at the batters on air during the WTC final on Thursday, June 8.
We talk about leaving the ball in England and we always talk about knowing where your off stump is: Ravi Shastri
“That is leaving it poorly because the front foot has just gone across. It should be going towards the ball; he was looking to play it and then decided whether he should leave it. You see, the way he is leaving it, the off-stump is exposed. The front foot is still the middle stump when it’s actually going towards the off stump. Watch that front foot. It should be further across and towards the ball. He thought it was outside the off stump. It was an error in judgment,” Shastri was quoted as saying on air.
Pujara has been representing Surrey in the County Cricket Championship for the last two years, and his form there was the reason to bring him back to the Indian squad. But after scoring a lot of runs on England soil, which included some brilliant centuries as well, the 35-year-old failed to make his mark in the WTC final against the Australian side. He was able to score only 14 runs from 25 balls, which included two fours in his innings.
“We talk about leaving the ball in England and we always talk about knowing where your off stump is. This is not knowing where your off-stump is. See, Shubman Gill is a little lazy with his footwork. He will learn; he is still young, but Pujara will be very disappointed seeing that. It should have been a little further towards the ball and across the line of the ball. That’s why they keep telling you – know where your off stump is,” the 61-year-old asserted.
