Vaibhav Tripathi
Veteran Indian batter Cheteshwar Pujara remains hopeful about his chances of returning to the Indian Test team. His omission from the national squad for the West Indies tour earlier this year followed his disappointing performance in the World Test Championship (WTC) final against Australia.
Pujara emphasized that his pathway back to the Indian team relies on his ability to accumulate runs in first-class cricket, which he believes will be instrumental in earning his place once again.
“Look, I always try and control the things which I can. It’s always about getting as many runs as possible in whatever games I play,” he was quoted as saying in an interview with Sussex Cricket.
“I am still in the scheme of things. So, I hope that the moment I start scoring more runs in first-class games, I will be back in the team. But I will try and be in present, try and take one game at a time,” he added.
Pujara is enjoying an exceptional run of form with the bag in recent times. He amassed an impressive total of 545 runs in six matches for Sussex, achieving an astonishing average of 68.12 in County Championship Division Two. This remarkable performance included three centuries.
Furthermore, in the 2023 Duleep Trophy match, he showcased his prowess by scoring 133 runs for West Zone against Central Zone. Presently participating in England’s domestic One-Day Competition, Pujara has continued his impressive streak, accumulating a total of 302 runs at an extraordinary average of 151, which includes two centuries.