'Youngsters have been bailing team out': Inzamam-ul-Haq says Kohli, Pujara, Rahane need to get big scores consistently

The Pakistan great further said that the team has been dependent on the youngsters in recent years to bail them out of difficult situations, but if the experienced players do not perform consistently, it puts pressure on the youngster as well.

Ajinkya Rahane, Virat Kohli, Cheteshwar Pujara collage.(AP)

Former Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq believes "big gaps" between "big scores or hundreds" from India's three mainstay batsmen - Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, and Cheteshwar Pujara, has become a problem for Team India. Inzamam's remarks came after India were bowled out for 278 on Day 4 of the 3rd Test against England at Headingley, losing the match by an innings and 76 runs.

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“If you look at Team India’s batters, Virat Kohli hasn’t scored a hundred in nearly two years. The case is the same with Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane is also struggling. Youngsters have been bailing the team out of difficult situations in recent times. Rishabh Pant scored a lot of runs, Ravindra Jadeja also contributed and Ashwin as well. The young guns have contributed a lot more in comparison to the experienced guys," Inzamam said in a video on his Youtube channel.

“In big series, if Team India’s experienced players don’t lead from the front, then they are bound to find themselves in trouble. I have been observing India’s performance from Australia. They have played some very good Test cricket. They have won series’ away from home in tough conditions. But the major role in these wins was played by the young players.”

According to a PTI report, the all-rounder has been ruled out of the remainder of the T20I with seven days of isolation while the remaining eight tested ‘negative’ in the RT-PCR tests but as a precautionary measure won't be able to take the field on Wednesday. However, there is no official confirmation from the BCCI yet.

9 players reportedly being unavailable for the next two games has left the fans puzzled. Meanwhile, former India opener Wasim Jaffer has offered a solution. He shared a meme on Twitter that shows coach Rahul Dravid would take the field with VVS Laxman in the second T20I.