“Absolutely fantastic players!” is what Barry Richards refers to when asked about Indian team’s current crop of Virat Kohli and Cheteshwar Pujara.
“Absolutely fantastic players!” is what Barry Richards refers to when asked about Indian team’s current crop of Virat Kohli and Cheteshwar Pujara. Barry himself who only played 4 Tests for the Proteas (due to the apartheid regime), still amassed an average of 72.57. In a recent interview with a published newspaper, the South African legend was full of praise for the youngsters. He says, “They (Kohli and Pujara) are different, yet they have the same hunger for runs that I had seen in both Rahul Dravid and Sachin Tendulkar…These two are great additions to your side. Just that I wanted to see them in one more Test in Cape Town, it’s a pity they are going home after Durban.”
But when asked if they can be the ‘perfect replacement’ for the legends who quit Indian cricket, he adds “It’s always difficult to fill the void left by legends, but they are definitely on the right track. But when such legendary players go, a team is bound to feel their absence for a while.”
The Indian batsmen have been ticking all the boxes in the recent Tests against South Africa. This series, Virat Kohli has 261 runs while Cheteshwar Pujara looks ominous with 248 runs in 2 Tests played so far. Also to chip in with some other names too, the likes of Murali Vijay and Ajinkya Rahane too have passed out with flying colours.
With a flurry of overseas cricket awaiting, this South African safari has come in at the right time for these young Indian players who proving their worth to be men!
