Indian batter Cheteshwar Pujara has backed Washington Sundar to bat at number five in the fifth Test match against England. Sundar was promoted to number five in the second innings of the fourth Test after Rishabh Pant suffered a fractured toe. 

The left-hander was able to grab his opportunity with both hands as he scored an unbeaten 101 runs off 206 balls, which is his maiden Test century.

Pujara believes Dhruv Jurel, who is expected to replace injured Rishabh Pant in the fifth Test, can bat at number seven. Jurel has been keeping the wickets in the last two Test matches and had impressed for India A against England Lions before the ongoing Test series.

Cheteshwar Pujara said on Sony Sports network, “Sai Sudharsan wwill be at No. 3. The bigger change will be Dhruv Jurel coming in at No. 5 instead of Rishabh Pant. I would actually be tempted to put Washington at No. 5 and Dhruv Jurel can bat at No. 7 because Jadeja stays at 6. He shouldn’t change his position but Washington can bat at No. 5 and being a left-hander it’ll be good because Rishabh was batting at No. 5 and he had very good success because he is a left-hander as well.”

Meanwhile, the left-handed duo of Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar added 203 runs for the fifth wicket to keep England bowlers at bay on Sunday. Pujara noted that the English bowlers struggled against the left-handers.

“Left-handers make a big difference in English conditions. Stats might be suggesting something else but England bowlers definitely struggle to bowl against left-hand batters and we saw it today, when the left-handers were batting, they looked like they were very comfortable against the seamers,” said Pujara.

The fifth and final Test match between England and India will be played at the Kennington Oval, London, from 31st July onwards.