'Stuck At Crease': Why Pujara Is Struggling Against Left-Arm Spin

Back in 2019 when Cheteshwar Pujara arrived in India after frustrating Aussie bowlers and playing the lead, man-of-the-series role in India's first-ever Test series win in Australia, he got stuck

"With Cheteshwar, he is using his feet, stretching, everything is okay. But many times, he has been playing half-cock. When he is in doubt, he doesn't stretch (full) against left-arm spinner. That is where he is stuck with lbw or is caught in slips," said former India batsman Anshuman Gaekwad, who also served as India chief selector and coach.

Leach has had him caught in slips by Ben Stokes twice and leg-before the wicket once. After his 73 in the first innings of the first Test, he has aggregated 43 across the last four innings with Leach getting him thrice, and once he has fallen run out. England have ensured that they throttled his run-scoring with his strike rate in the last four innings just 34.95.

This is exactly what Vidarbha thought two years ago when they got him out twice cheaply.

Although Vidarbha skipper Faiz Fazal, as well as spinner Aditya Sarwate, don't want to discuss the team strategy in detail they do say that the idea was to restrict him inside the crease.

"We all know he has got great footwork and likes to cut out the spin (by stepping out). He doesn't like to play from the crease. So we thought of restricting his singles, not allowing him to go off-strike. We played with the field setting. Bowled straighter lines so that he doesn't get singles and plays from crease. Aditya varied his speed well like we had planned. He bowled extremely well making sure it was not easy for Pujara to step out," Fazal told.