The Test specialist cites the performances of Indian fast bowlers on foreign conditions as the reason behind his confidence in the bowling unit.

In Test matches this year, Rahane has now scored 411 runs in 21 innings at an average of 19.57, with just two half-centuries. A lot was expected of him in the first Test but Rahane registered scores of 35 and 4, resulting in his Test career average going below 40.

Rahane was done in by low bounce when he was expecting the ball from a near 7 feet tall Jamieson to rear up. With 12 Tests without a big score (India might not bat twice), Rahane's record is not reading too well for a stand-in skipper.

Dravid's entry into the dressing room is a win-win situation for Pujara, whose game is modelled on current India head coach's tight defensive technique.

Shami and fellow senior pacer Ishant Sharma were rested from the Oval Test that India won by 157 runs to take a 2-1 lead in the five-match series as the duo was nursing niggles.

Rohit Sharma added a crucial 153-run stand for the second wicket alongside Cheteshwar Pujara, who made 61.

It took eight years and 43 Test matches to get an overseas hundred and that too in England in tough conditions, and there won't be any second guess about where this knock of Rohit will rank among his eight tons.

India are currently leading the five-match Test series 1-0 with two days left in the third Test at Headingley.

By stumps on the third evening, India reached 215 for two in their second innings courtesy Pujara and Rohit (59), with the former only 9 runs behind a century.

Cheteshwar Pujara was batting on 91 and giving him company was skipper Virat Kohli on 45. Opener Rohit Sharma got out after scoring 59.

Pujara has been a hot topic of discussion amongst Indian fans and critics for his slow batting in Test cricket.

Rahane even laughed off the flak they faced on social media by saying that only "important people" are talked about.

The experienced duo of Pujara and Test vice-captain Rahane have not been at their best of late, averaging in the 20s this year.

With Kohli wanting to stick to his template, focussing more on picking 20 wickets, the middle order needs to deliver in what arguably stands India's best chance to win a series in England.

Gavaskar described Rahane and Pujara as "low-profile" cricketers and said that questions must be asked of the support staff if both the players are getting out in a similar fashion.

The captain said that players at this level are aware of their responsibilities and undue criticism doesn't bother them, least of all Pujara.

Known for his rock-solid defence and textbook batting technique, Pujara received a lot of flak for not being able to put away the bad deliveries in recent years.

Indian management do have a few questions and dilemmas to answer before picking their XI for the England Test series opener on August 4 in Nottingham.

Shaw, who has represented India in five Tests and three ODIs, is part of the national squad in Colombo selected for the limited-overs series against Sri Lanka, starting July 13.

Pujara's last Test century came in January 2019, during India's historic series win in Australia.