Stuart Broad questions Ranchi pitch strategy, asks if Cheteshwar Pujara's career is over

As England made inroads into the Indian batting lineup in the fourth Test against India in Ranchi, former seamer Stuart Broad questioned the hosts’ strategy. Shoaib Bashir’s four wickets put England in command of the Test after Day 2 and primed for a big first innings lead.

England posted 353 runs in their first innings before spinners Bashir and Tom Hartley picked six wickets between them to leave India in trouble at 219 for seven.

The scoreline could have been worse had it not been for a valiant 42-run stand between Dhruv Jurel and Kuldeep Yadav.

Following India’s poor batting show, Broad, who retired last year, slammed the hosts over their pitch choice and plan to leave out an experienced Cheteshwar Pujara, despite the absence of Virat Kohli and KL Rahul.

More from First Cricket News

How Gautam Gambhir’s simple plan transformed India’s Test batting in England 'Mike Hesson should not act as Pakistan cricket's father': Ex-Pak cricketer slams New Zealand coach amid poor results

India skipper Rohit Sharma, at the opening slot, remains the only senior batter in the lineup. In the absence of other veterans, India have been promoting Ravindra Jadeja to No. 5. However, barring Yashasvi Jaiswal, who scored 73 runs, his fourth fifty-plus knock in the series, the rest of the top six batters managed only 83 runs.

Broad questiond Pujara’s absence, who has been in impressive form in the ongoing Ranji Trophy season, and indicated that he should be picked for the fifth match in Dharamsala.

Impact Shorts

View All

'Won't require surgery...': Real reason behind Jasprit Bumrah's absence from 5th Test revealed in new report

PCB bans players from WCL over India-Pakistan match controversy

With the experience & world class talent of Kohli missing, would there have been temptation to bring back Pujara into this India batting line up? Or is his international career over? Feels like he could have brought some consistency and an anchor ⚓️

— Stuart Broad (@StuartBroad8) February 24, 2024

“With the experience & world class talent of Kohli missing, would there have been temptation to bring back Pujara into this India batting line up? Or is his international career over? Feels like he could have brought some consistency and an anchor,” he posted on X.

Pujara, who last played for India in the World Test Championship (WTC) final last year, has been in sublime form in the Ranji Trophy where he is the fourth-highest run-getter with 783 runs in 12 innings at 58.12. He scored three centuries and two fifties during his campaign for Saurashtra.

On Ranchi pitch

India were undone by variable bounce on the second day’s play. Broad questioned the ploy of preparing a turning surface when India do better on flatter decks. The Ranchi pitch assisted spinners more on the second day, as against the first, as England were ahead by 134 runs.

“I mainly tweet about England- but looking at India. They’re an amazing team on flat Test pitches in India where their spinners skill comes into it & they out bowl other teams. Playing on pitches that roll along the floor brings in the opposition so much more. I can’t understand why they’ve prepared a pitch like this?” he posted.

I mainly tweet about England- but looking at India. They’re an amazing team on flat Test pitches in India where their spinners skill comes into it & they out bowl other teams. Playing on pitches that roll along the floor brings in the opposition so much more. I can’t understand…

— Stuart Broad (@StuartBroad8) February 24, 2024

He added, “I also understand that if India had won the toss, batted, they’d have got 300 & England would be 180-7 & none of these points get raised! That’s cricket 🏏”

Haven’t seen much of this Test match as of yet, just clicked on now. England massively on top. Spinners bowling accurately, uneven bounce. Cracks. Bowlers dream. 350 looks 100 above par. Toss in this series seems crucial. Bat first, dominate the game. Bumrah ‘rested’- can’t…

— Stuart Broad (@StuartBroad8) February 24, 2024

“Haven’t seen much of this Test match as of yet, just clicked on now. England massively on top. Spinners bowling accurately, uneven bounce. Cracks. Bowlers dream. 350 looks 100 above par. Toss in this series seems crucial. Bat first, dominate the game. Bumrah ‘rested’- can’t understand it. 8 overs in his last innings. Handed initiative back to England”