It’s been over a year since India’s dependable test batter Cheteshwar Pujara last donned the national jersey. His most recent appearance was in the ICC World Test Championship final against Australia at The Oval, where he managed scores of 14 and 27 in a losing cause. Since then, Pujara has been absent from the Indian squad, raising questions about his future in international cricket.
Despite not being a part of India’s plans, Pujara has remained active on the cricket circuit. He continues to represent his domestic side, Saurashtra, and also turned out for Sussex in the English County Championship earlier this year. Pujara recently shared a video on social media, showing himself practicing in the nets with the caption, “Never stand still!” – a message that highlights his ongoing dedication to the game.
Never stand still!🏏 pic.twitter.com/Lxax3uRJML
— Cheteshwar Pujara (@cheteshwar1) September 19, 2024
India’s test season began on Thursday with the first match against Bangladesh in Chennai, but the day did not start well for the home team. Top-order stalwarts Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, and Virat Kohli were dismissed cheaply by Bangladesh’s young pacer Hasan Mahmud. However, a strong lower-middle order performance, spearheaded by Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja’s 195-run partnership for the seventh wicket, helped India recover.
Reports suggest that the Indian team management may have moved on from Pujara, signaling that his time in the national team could be over. He wasn’t selected for any of the four squads in the ongoing Duleep Trophy, a key domestic red-ball tournament. At 36, Pujara has had an illustrious career, playing 103 test and scoring 7,195 runs, including 19 centuries and 35 half-centuries. His experience and contributions have made him one of India’s finest test batters, but it seems the selectors are looking towards younger options.
Whether or not Pujara will make a return to international cricket remains uncertain, but his achievements and dedication to the longest format of the game have left an indelible mark on Indian cricket.
