IND vs ENG: Injured Cheteshwar Pujara remains off field, Mayank Agarwal comes in as substitute

Cheteshwar Pujara in action on Day 1 of second Test between India and England. (Twitter/BCCI)

India batsman Cheteshwar Pujara did not take the field on Day 2 of the ongoing Test between India and England. The 33-year-old took a blow on his hand while batting in the previous day. Pujara was replaced by reserve player Mayank Agarwal as India decimated the English top-order in the first session of the day. 

The right-handed batsman scored 21 off 58 balls before being dismissed by Jack Leach. During the course of his innings, Pujara stitched a crucial 85-run partnership with Rohit Sharma, helping the hosts recover from the early blow. 

“Cheteshwar Pujara was hit on his right hand while batting on Day 1 of the second Paytm Test against England. He felt some pain later. He will not be fielding today,” read an update from the BCCI. 

Cheteshwar Pujara was hit on his right hand while batting on Day 1 of the second @Paytm Test against England at Chepauk. He felt some pain later. He will not be fielding today. #INDvENG pic.twitter.com/k0KkFOiHVC — BCCI (@BCCI) February 14, 2021

Pujara had taken a lot of body blows in the recent series in Australia, especially in the final innings of the series-deciding fourth Test at Brisbane, but had carried on batting to play a part in his team’s incredible win. 

Resuming action from the overnight score of 300/6, the hosts added 29 runs as Moeen Ali and Olly Stone combined to pick two wickets each in the morning. In response to India's first-inning total of 329, the visitors got off to a dreadful start. They are now batting on 97/6 and are trailing by 232 runs. 

- with PTI inputs