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Xtra Time Web Desk: Team India’s dependable No 3 batsman Cheteshwar Pujara on Tuesday got the backing of his skipper Virat Kohli. Ahead of the first Test in Trent Bridge, Kohli felt that the criticism against the 33-year-old is absolutely uncalled for and Pujara doesn’t care about it.

“It’s been going on for a while and I honestly feel a player of his calibre and experience should be left alone and it should be absolutely with the individual to figure out what are the drawbacks in his game,” Kohli said during the virtual pre match press conference on Tuesday.

Kohli also added, “Similarly with me or any other player in this team, we are very aware of the things we need to do for the benefit of the team. I can from outside say criticism is unnecessary but I know for a fact that Pujara doesn't care and criticism is as relevant as you want it to be.”

“People can say what they want to say on the outside and those are just words at the end of the day. If you feel they mean no value to you, you just carry on, walking on your path,” Kohli said

Pujara has been struggling to score after the conclusion of the Australia tour. In the 4-Test series against England at home, he scored 133 runs at an average of 22.17. He also failed in the World Test Championship final against New Zealand, managing scores of 8 and 15 in both innings.

On being asked if the current Indian team is better prepared going into the test series since they last toured England in 2018, Kohli said,  “We have a more experienced side than the last tour. We have players who can help the team recover from tough situations even if some of the younger players don’t manage to. We have been much better-prepared than we have been in the past,”

Meanwhile the team management will only announce the playing XI after looking at the conditions before the toss.