Lalchand Rajput asks the fringe players to make India-A tour count

Lalchand Rajput asks Indian youngsters to look upto Pujara

India-A coach Lalchand Rajput insisted that doing well in India-A tours will earn the fringe players a spot in the national team and cited Cheteshwar Pujara as the best example for cashing in, on these chances.

In an interview to NDTV, Rajput said: “Cheteshwar Pujara went last year to the West Indies where he did well and immediately came into the Indian team.

“When we went to New Zealand, Bhuvneshwar Kumar did well, Mohammed Shami and (Ambati) Rayudu also did well on that tour and now they are in the Indian team.”

He added: “This tour is important. Players also realise that if they do well in the ‘A’ tour then the next step is the Indian team, so it is an important tour.”

He also revealed that there will be a training camp for players who are not a part of India’s tour of Zimbabwe.

He was quoted as saying: “Ten players are already playing in Zimbabwe, so they must be match fit and would be coming directly from there to South Africa.

“I am going to meet the other six players in Bangalore tomorrow. We will have a 2 to 3-day camp and then leave on August 3 and meet the other players on August 4.”

He believed that Pujara’s captaincy skills will improve with series like these. He had this to say on Pujara’s captaincy: “I have seen Cheteshwar captaining the India A team in the West Indies. He is a fantastic player.

“As a captain, he is learning by experience. I think this tour will help him to mature as a captain.”

Praising the Indian selectors for the commendable job that they have done so far, he said: “Selectors have done a good job by sending young players and when you get the opportunity to play at the international level, you must grab it with both hands.

“Amit Mishra, who wasn’t part the team last year, has done very well and selectors would now have to think about leaving him out of the team. Unadkat and Shami have also done well similarly.”