The India cricket team head coach Ravi Shastri has backed Cheteshwar Pujara to overcome a lean patch and deliver for the visiting team in the much-anticipated five-Test series, starting August 1 in Edgbaston.
Shastri insisted that he has no problems with Pujara's scoring rate, which has often been a topic of debate. The solid first drop has even been dropped from the playing XI in the past to accommodate a more free-scoring batsman.
Pujara is heading into the tournament on the back of a series of low scores. The 30-year-old Saurashtra batsman failed to get going in the only warm-up match against Essex and managed just 172 runs for Yorkshire in the county season from 12 innings.
With team India prioritising flexibility in the batting line-up, Pujara is in danger of losing his spot in the playing XI.
Pujara's overseas record, especially in countries likes England, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa is far from impressive but Shastri believes the right-handed batsman in just one big knock away from hitting peak form.
"It [run rate] is not a concern for me at all. He has a role to play. He knows his role, because No. 3 is an important role," Shastri told ESPNCricinfo ahead of the first Test, which starts on Wednesday in Birmingham.
"Pujara is an anchor. He has been one of the pillars of this batting line-up for a long time. You know what he does - he loves batting (smiles). We just want him to do it.
"We have seen once he gets in, he makes it count. He is one player who will really make it count and hold the innings together, so he becomes important.
"He's an extremely experienced player. I feel he is one innings away [from a big score]. He needs to spend time at the crease. If he gets one 60-70 under his belt, he will be a different player altogether. My job is to make sure he is thinking in that fashion."
'We want him to be Pujara, not Usain Bolt'
Shastri also said it is important for Pujara not to repeat the mistakes he had done in South Africa during India's 2-1 defeat. The No. 3 batsman was run out twice in the second Test and his dismissals proved decisive as India went on to lose the match in Centurion and thereby concede an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series.
There has been considerable pressure on Pujara to score runs at a quicker pace than he does but in English conditions the team would be more than happy to see their No. 3 play out time in the first few sessions.
"Unfortunately, in South Africa, he was run out a couple of times [in the same Test in Centurion]. That is something we don't want," Shastri added.
"We don't want him to be an Usain Bolt, we want to him to be Pujara. Stay there at the crease. The last thing you want to do is give your wicket away to a run-out."
Shastri and his men are keen on becoming one of the better travelling teams in the world. A strong showing in England will help the cause and the Asian giants are in with a chance, considering the way they had fought in South Africa.
