India’s batting struggles have sparked discussions around team selection, with reports suggesting that Head Coach Gautam Gambhir called for the return of veteran batter Cheteshwar Pujara. Known for his decisive contributions during India’s past series wins in Australia, Pujara’s inclusion was reportedly discussed but ultimately rejected by the selectors.
According to a leading publication, even after India’s victory in the opening Test in Perth, Gambhir continued to emphasize the importance of bringing Pujara back into the Test setup. The 36-year-old last represented India in the World Test Championship (WTC) Final against Australia during the 2021-23 cycle.
Pujara, who hails from Rajkot and represents Saurashtra in domestic cricket, has a storied history in India’s triumphs Down Under. In the 2018 tour, he was India’s top scorer with 521 runs across seven innings. During the 2020/21 series, he scored 271 runs, with his resilient 211-ball 56 in the Gabba Test standing out as a key effort in India’s historic win.
As the current series stands at 2-1 in Australia’s favor, the visitors are well-positioned to secure the title and a spot in the WTC Final for the second consecutive season. India, however, will aim to regroup and deliver a stellar performance in the final Test to level the series and retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Pujara’s absence adds to the intrigue as the team looks to overcome its batting challenges and stage a strong comeback.
