The Telegraph are reporting that we are in discussions with Pujara about signing as our overseas player for the County Championship:
The Telegraph are reporting that we are in discussions with Pujara about signing as our overseas player for the County Championship:
I think that would be an excellent signing.
Pujara has been picked up in the IPL auction for the first time in seven years, which could complicate things...
I'm quite surprised that he has been picked up for the IPL because he seems to be much more at home in the longer formats - Cricinfo describes him as a "defensive batsman who takes pleasure in grinding down attacks". But if he can't do both, no doubt the money and staying in his home country are going to be more appealing than coming to Warwickshire.
I’m actually quite happy with the overseas business this winter. As, I think it’s great Malan will be with us all summer. I hate to see overseas players coming in for a couple of games and then leaving to be replaced by another. We’ve escaped that owing to Jeets’ long term commitment to the club and long may that continue.
Seen rumblings on Twitter that Malan is having visa issues. That’s why he hasn’t arrived yet. Which if not sorted in the next few days would mean he couldn’t play in the first match due to quarantining.
Seems a real oversight by the club if that is the case.
We've signed Hanuma Vihari BBC article to cover for Malan while the Visa issue is sorted out - I wonder what's causing the delay.
I have to say I don't know much about Vihari and don't recall him being in England when India toured, which the article tells me he was, but any option to boost the batting lineup is a positive, as I think batting will be much more of a problem in CC than bowling.
The first 10 minutes of this are interesting in relation to what Vihari was doing in England other than playing for Warwickshire:
https://www.indiatoday.in/sports/cricket/video/hanuma-vihari-on-covid-19-relief-group-wanted-to-make-good-use-of-social-media-presence-1803020-2021-05-15
The narrow view might be that he would have been better practising his forward defensive; but the wider view says "well done!"