"Many of the current Indian batsmen have learnt from the mistakes of the past" : Cheteshwar Pujara

[Sidilicious]

Not sure who will be dropped if Pujara makes a comeback? Vihari or Shreyas??

Shreyas, ideally. Because IMO this is only one off. I do not see Pujara back for the Aus series.

As of now, I think Shreyas hasn’t shown the technical ability to play the moving ball. He needs to develop it.

 

[MP2011]

Not sure who will be dropped if Pujara makes a comeback? Vihari or Shreyas??

Ideally Vihari. He won't take our cricket too far, so limited player he is.

 

[MP2011]

Shreyas, ideally. Because IMO this is only one off. I do not see Pujara back for the Aus series.

As of now, I think Shreyas hasn’t shown the technical ability to play the moving ball. He needs to develop it.

Its not that Vihari is any great in playing moving ball. He will block 40-50 balls and then get out. He hardly has any great strokes in his arsenal.

At least with Shreyas, you may hope he'll come off once in a while and that'd be enough to take the game away from opposition.

PS: Not a fan of Shreyas, the test cricketer. However he has done well in whatever opportunities he has got so far in test cricket. It was such an idiotic move not to play him in any of the tests in SA.

 

[Ab Fan]

Ideally Vihari. He won't take our cricket too far, so limited player he is.

To be honest, Pujara whom we are bringing back is even more limited than Vihari.

Vihari has good defense, Shreyas has decent defense too and more shot than other two but guys like Robinson can trouble him with short pitch stuffs or if England have Archer or Wood anyone of them won't be easy.

 

[MP2011]

To be honest, Pujara whom we are bringing back is even more limited than Vihari.

Vihari has good defense, Shreyas has decent defense too and more shot than other two but guys like Robinson can trouble him with short pitch stuffs or if England have Archer or Wood anyone of them won't be easy.

Ideally, Pujara shouldn't be brought back just because he bashed some hapless English trundlers. He has been consigned to history, hopefully!

You think Robinson won't trouble a strokeless wonder like Vihari?

At least, Shreyas has every shot in the book even though with a questionable technique against short stuff.

Vihari has neither strokes nor technique.

 

[Varun]

Too late Pujara. You're done.

Interesting to see you and Rizwan batting in partnership though!

 

[Bhaag Viru Bhaag]

Pujara might have just ensured that he will be part of playing XI this summer for the only test in England.

1. only player to have played any first class cricket, while our superstars are busy playing IPL and T20
2. not only has Pujara played first class in England, he is scoring bucketful of runs

It would be stupid to leave him out now, especially if he carries this form for the rest of the summer

Don't fall in Pujara's trap once again lol. He and Rahane should be nowhere near Indian team. He has got enough opportunities.

 

[Ab Fan]

Ideally, Pujara shouldn't be brought back just because he bashed some hapless English trundlers. He has been consigned to history, hopefully!

You think Robinson won't trouble a strokeless wonder like Vihari?

At least, Shreyas has every shot in the book even though with a questionable technique against short stuff.

Vihari has neither strokes nor technique.

Vihari has good technique, he has mostly failed due to not been able to convert the starts.

To be honest, Pujara isn't any good vs pacers and we have seen it all his career. He sees off pace by blocking and score only vs spinners, overseas you don't get as many overs of spin and he just struggles to pile unless it is a subcontinent type wicket like Sydney(where he got 193) or Oval.

I personally feel not much will change with either of the three. They are great vs spin but will struggle vs high pace but I would go with Vihari because his technique is more compact and should soon be at his peak having been invested for 2-3 years now.

 

[MP2011]

. only player to have played any first class cricket, while our superstars are busy playing IPL and T20

Lol, that's because he wasn't deemed worthy enough to be picked for slam bang cricket. Had he been picked by anyone of the franchisees, he won't have been playing county cricket for sure.

 

[MenInG]

Veteran India batter Cheteshwar Pujara continued his stellar form in the ongoing 2022 County Championship as he scored his second double century in the tournament, en route to his knock of 203 for Sussex in the match against Durham at Hove. And with the knock, Pujara equalled Mohammad Azharuddin's 28-year-old staggering feat in County cricket.

This was Pujara's second double century in the tournament having earlier scored an unbeaten 201 against Derbyshire last week at Derby in his first game this season. Overall, his scores in 2022 County tournament reads: 6 (15), 201* (387), 109 (206), 12 (22), 203 (334).

With the second double ton, Pujara became the second Indian to score two such knocks in the County Championship after the former India skipper Azharuddin, who had scored 212 against Leicestershire in 1991 and 205 against Durham in 1994. Both of his knocks came for Derbyshire.

This was also his 15th first-class double-century, which consolidates his place among Asian players in the unique list. Sri Lanka great Kumar Sangakkara stands second on the list with his tally of 13 double tons. Meanwhile, eight batters, overall, have more first-class double-hundreds than the Indian, but none of them remain active.

En route to the knock, he also stitched a crucial 154-run stand alongside Pakistan cricketer Mohammad Rizwan, who was dismissed for 79. This partnership helped Sussex finish with 538 runs, against Durham's first innings total of 223.

These runs will keep Pujara in contention for a place in the Indian Test squad for the one match they have against England later this summer. The veteran batter was dropped from the Indian Test team following the series loss in South Africa earlier this year.

Hindustan Times

 

[James]

Obviously a “wall” innings from Pujara but I think as an international player he is done.

Scoring at position 5, and in County Cricket Division Two which is a very average standard, is hardly a legitimate resurrection.

 

[NishanKonar]

Obviously a “wall” innings from Pujara but I think as an international player he is done.

Scoring at position 5, and in County Cricket Division Two which is a very average standard, is hardly a legitimate resurrection.

Also India rarely brings a senior player back after he is dropped from the team. So highly unlikely he will be back

 

[James]

Also India rarely brings a senior player back after he is dropped from the team. So highly unlikely he will be back

Yes.

Not always — but usually, once a veteran India player is out, he’s out.

 

[Ab Fan]

Obviously a “wall” innings from Pujara but I think as an international player he is done.

Scoring at position 5, and in County Cricket Division Two which is a very average standard, is hardly a legitimate resurrection.

This point needs to be taken in consideration by BCCI before they announce the team for that final test vs England. Won't be fair also to drop Vihari or Shreyas as they are coming with runs behind them.

 

[James]

This point needs to be taken in consideration by BCCI before they announce the team for that final test vs England. Won't be fair also to drop Vihari or Shreyas as they are coming with runs behind them.

Unless they view it as Pujara’s farewell Test.

He might get through the door in this case.

 

[Bhaag Viru Bhaag]

Unless they view it as Pujara’s farewell Test.

He might get through the door in this case.

It is not necessary to give a farewell test to each and every player.

 

[Mesozoic]

Selecting Pujara will be a backward step. And that too based on second grade county bullying. He's done and dusted. And honestly, I'm not really sold on Vihari either for that no.3 spot. He's mostly a '40 and out' player even on his good days.

Would rather give Gill a long run at 3 and see how that goes.

 

[MenInG]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Fourth match, fourth 100+ score. <br><br>It's a privilege to watch, <a href="https://twitter.com/cheteshwar1?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@cheteshwar1</a>. <a href="https://t.co/IF8nLUt9Yg">pic.twitter.com/IF8nLUt9Yg</a></p>— Sussex Cricket (@SussexCCC) <a href="https://twitter.com/SussexCCC/status/1522996848298172416?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 7, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[MenInG]

Cheteshwar Pujara has been in great form in the County Championship for Sussex. In his four matches so far, he has scored two double centuries and two tons. His great show has led many to believe that he is prepared to make a comeback to the Indian Test team. Pujara was dropped from the Indian team for the home series against Sri Lanka after some poor run of form. However, with India playing England in a lone Test starting on July 1, which will complete the away series that Team India has been leading 2-1 since last year, the BCCI selectors may be tempted to bring Pujara back in.

Former Indian cricket team captain Sunil Gavaskar had an interesting take on Pujara's chances to make a comeback.

"Yes, it should be kept in mind (for India's Test match in England). Just last year we saw that before the World Test Championship final, New Zealand played two Test matches in England. Because of that, they got acclimatised to the conditions there and when they got similar conditions in Southampton for the WTC final. It was raining. They were used to the condition. This is what is happening to Cheteshwar Pujara. He has gotten used to batting in English conditions, against their bowlers. Yes, there is a huge difference between a County attack and a Test bowling attack, but when a batter is in rhythm, why not take advantage and consider him," Gavaskar told in an interview on Sports Tak.

"It's not like he will be making a comeback to the Test team after two to three years. It's been a matter of six to seven months. Till September, he was in the team. He was part of the team during the Test series against New Zealand and in South Africa too. He was in the team since January. So yes, he should definitely be considered for the XI. His ability to tire out the bowler and hold one end is highly needed. And we have seen that his strike-rate is good too in County cricket."

NDTV

 

[MenInG]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Had an amazing initial stint with <a href="https://twitter.com/SussexCCC?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SussexCCC</a> Thank you for the lovely time here. All the best for the T20s. Look forward to being back soon <a href="https://t.co/4doRpuLnt4">pic.twitter.com/4doRpuLnt4</a></p>— cheteshwar pujara (@cheteshwar1) <a href="https://twitter.com/cheteshwar1/status/1526173240053358592?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 16, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[MenInG]

Cheteshwar Pujara has earned his place back in the India Test squad for the 5th Test vs England on the back of strong performances for Sussex in County Championship Division 2.

 

[MenInG]

WICKET! Pujara c Lees b Broad 66 – India 153-4

Broad strikes in his first over. Not the greatest ball he will ever bowl – short and wide outside off stump – but it brings about the end of Pujara for a well-made 66 as the batter carves straight to backward point.

 

[Varun]

Yeah talk nah Pujara. When was the last time you made a 100? Probably gone longer than Kohli without one. The money is always on you getting out first thing the next day regardless of how you've batted the previous innings. In this series alone you got out for 91 in one of the tests 2nd innings doing that.

We get smug and overconfident after crossing a pre-set target (like 300). Anything after that is treated like a bonus and we bat either with gay abandon or super defensively thinking the job is done.

Thrice in a year now we have been shown up big time.

 

[Ab Fan]

Who has done better between Kohli and Pujara since 2019? Both must be averaging below 30.

 

[MenInG]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Cheteshwar Pujara bowling <br><br>Every ball from his over for Sussex<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/LVCountyChamp?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#LVCountyChamp</a> <a href="https://t.co/cJWjICfslO">pic.twitter.com/cJWjICfslO</a></p>— LV= Insurance County Championship (@CountyChamp) <a href="https://twitter.com/CountyChamp/status/1547297376456548352?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 13, 2022</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[MenInG]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr"> <a href="https://twitter.com/cheteshwar1?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@cheteshwar1</a> does it again!<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/LVCountyChamp?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#LVCountyChamp</a> <a href="https://t.co/JehWCswOCq">pic.twitter.com/JehWCswOCq</a></p>— LV= Insurance County Championship (@CountyChamp) <a href="https://twitter.com/CountyChamp/status/1549768921699520514?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 20, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[MenInG]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck"><p lang="en" dir="ltr"> for Pujara &#55357;&#56613;<br><br>What an innings &#55357;&#56399;<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/LvCountyChamp?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#LvCountyChamp</a> <a href="https://t.co/8zBufoqGVq">pic.twitter.com/8zBufoqGVq</a></p>— LV= Insurance County Championship (@CountyChamp) <a href="https://twitter.com/CountyChamp/status/1551245271073538048?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 24, 2022</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[MenInG]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Glorious from Pujara <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/LVCountyChamp?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#LVCountyChamp</a> <a href="https://t.co/hr8nky9cNB">pic.twitter.com/hr8nky9cNB</a></p>— LV= Insurance County Championship (@CountyChamp) <a href="https://twitter.com/CountyChamp/status/1551984825850011649?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 26, 2022</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[MenInG]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">4 2 4 2 6 4<br><br>TWENTY-TWO off the 47th over from <a href="https://twitter.com/cheteshwar1?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@cheteshwar1</a>. <a href="https://t.co/jbBOKpgiTI">pic.twitter.com/jbBOKpgiTI</a></p>— Sussex Cricket (@SussexCCC) <a href="https://twitter.com/SussexCCC/status/1558137119373131776?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 12, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[MenInG]

174 (131) for Pujara against Surrey today!

 

[MenInG]

 

[giri26]

Pujara is having an absolute ball in England. He scored over 1000 runs in the County Championship this year and now has 2 back to back hundreds in 50 overs format. Good that he is doing good and is also captaining Sussex. Don't think this will help him much with the Indian team due to his age but again I always felt that India should have given him more opportunities in 50 overs cricket especially.

 

[MenInG]

Pujara makes 132 for Sussex vs Middlesex in the Royal London One-Day Cup

 

[MenInG]

 

[MenInG]

Sussex Cricket is delighted to announce the re-signing of Cheteshwar Pujara for the 2023 season.

After joining Sussex last year Pujara made an enormous impact on the south coast side, scoring over 1000 County Championship runs, including a record breaking three double centuries and finishing the season with an average of 109.4.

His outstanding form continued into the 50-over Royal London Cup where he captained the side in the absence of the injured Tom Haines, leading the team to the semi-finals of the competition.

In his nine RL50 appearances Pujara averaged 89.14 at a strike-right of 111.62, with his highest score of 174 coming against Surrey in just 131 deliveries.

That knock was the highest of any Sussex batter in List-A cricket at the time, a record that was remarkably bettered by Ali Orr (206) just five days later.

Speaking on returning to Sussex, Pujara said: “I am glad to be back with Sussex for the 2023 season. I thoroughly enjoyed my last stint with the club last season, both on and off the field and I’m looking forward to contributing to the team’s growth and success in the coming year.”
Sussex Performance Director, Keith Greenfield, added: “It is fantastic news that Cheteshwar will be returning in 2023, we all saw the class he showed with the bat and his performances, but he was also outstanding in our young dressing room as a world class role model for them to follow.”

 

[MenInG]

First century in 52 innings for Pujara vs Bangladesh today

 

[jaisan]

100 th test for cheteswar pujara

Pujara 100th Test https://www.espncricinfo.com/gallery/pujara-100th-test-1357014.

pujara will play his hundredth test next match.comment on this throwback player who plays old school test cricket in the baz ball era

 

[Ab Fan]

One of the most resilient and gutsiest cricketer India has produced in its history.

I can only imagine a player as limited as Pujara is vs pace bowling achieve this much in modern era cricket.

 

[ex-q-zit]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">It was an honour to meet our Hon. Prime Minister Shri <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@narendramodi</a> ji. I will cherish the interaction and encouragement ahead of my 100th Test. Thank you <a href="https://twitter.com/PMOIndia?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PMOIndia</a> <a href="https://t.co/x3h7dq07E9">pic.twitter.com/x3h7dq07E9</a></p>— Cheteshwar Pujara (@cheteshwar1) <a href="https://twitter.com/cheteshwar1/status/1625517526489903105?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 14, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[jnaveen1980]

Congrats.Perfect time for retirement. Since Pandemic. That is a prolonged slump.

Pujara avge 29
Kohli avge 25
Rahane avge 24

 

[MenInG]

Pujara fighting hard for India in the 3rd Test - 50* to his name and this is where his skill to stand his ground and not go in a blaze of glory comes handy.

It's not all about baz ball!

 

[MenInG]

 

[MenInG]

Pujara with 115 to his name for Sussex

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">When you think there’s no possible way <a href="https://twitter.com/cheteshwar1?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@cheteshwar1</a> could impress you more, he pulls out this shot<br><br>What a cricketer!<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/LVCountyChamp?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#LVCountyChamp</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/SussexCCC?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SussexCCC</a> <a href="https://t.co/g086CnHbSn">pic.twitter.com/g086CnHbSn</a></p>— LV= Insurance County Championship (@CountyChamp) <a href="https://twitter.com/CountyChamp/status/1644365551706288130?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 7, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[MenInG]

On his way to County greatness Pujara - seems to be in the runs all the time.

 

[MenInG]

India veteran Cheteshwar Pujara was pleased to find form in England's County Championship ahead of June's ICC World Test Championship final against Australia.

While the majority of his national teammates are currently back home and featuring in the ongoing Indian Premier League, Pujara is once again honing his red-ball craft with a stint for Sussex in the second division of the County Championship.

Pujara hit the ground running in England with an excellent 115 in the first innings of Sussex’s clash against Durham at Hove and then backed it up with a solid 35 in the second dig to put his side within sight of victory.

It's a welcome return to form for Pujara, who struggled to make much of an impact against Australia during the recent Border-Gavaskar Test series as the 35-year-old managed just 140 runs from six knocks.

But Pujara re-affirmed his position as one of India's premier red-ball batters with his sixth century for Sussex and the right-hander was thrilled to be back among the runs.

"The things I have been working on are paying off and it was an important knock for the team," Pujara said after his century.

"As a batter, if you start well you feel confident and I hope that I can carry on from here and keep scoring runs throughout the season.

“I love batting on this pitch. It’s important to get a good start. I’m really happy with the way things went."

India will be hoping to have Pujura at his best for the one-off World Test Championship final against Australia at the start of June and will be relying on the experienced No.3 to find the same form that helped him collate 409 runs at an average of 45 during the last calendar year.

And while the runs haven't been as easy to come by for Pujara at Test level to start 2023, his latest efforts with the bat in County cricket point to a good preparation heading into the World Test Championship final.

Pujara will get a host of further chances to continue his form with Sussex's next match once again at home against Yorkshire from April 20, before the team begins a string of away matches at the end of the month.

Australia batter Steve Smith is also set to join up with Pujara and Sussex ahead of the World Test Championship final, with the right-hander scheduled to play three matches for the county during May.

ICC

 

[MenInG]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">191 balls. <br>13 fours. <br>1 six. <br><br>Another <a href="https://twitter.com/cheteshwar1?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@cheteshwar1</a> century <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/LVCountyChamp?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#LVCountyChamp</a> <a href="https://t.co/GZGOAisa06">pic.twitter.com/GZGOAisa06</a></p>— LV= Insurance County Championship (@CountyChamp) <a href="https://twitter.com/CountyChamp/status/1652254902729465859?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 29, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[daytrader]

Steve Smith to join Cheteshwar Pujara at Sussex

"He (Smith) is a great influence to have in the team and the guys will be looking forward to having him in the dressing room and will try and have a chat to him and learn from him, just to see how he prepares as he has a lot of experience,"

"We are all looking forward to having him here and sharing his experience as he has a lot of knowledge about the game and it will be nice to have his input."

"We have spoken, but most of the time we have played against each other,"

"It is never for the same team, so it will be exciting and I will try and get his thoughts, try and know him a little better.

"We will be playing WTC final (against each other), so it will be mixed feelings.

"On the field we always have good battles, but off the field we are good friends."

"When I went into bat it felt slightly difficult and during my innings I had to work hard, had to defend well and play many dot balls as well," Pujara noted.

"Considering the form I was in, I got 100 in the first game, so I felt that I was batting really well."

 

[MenInG]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Is <a href="https://twitter.com/cheteshwar1?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@cheteshwar1</a> allergic to 50s? <br><br>He has just scored his eighth century for <a href="https://twitter.com/SussexCCC?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SussexCCC</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/LVCountyChamp?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#LVCountyChamp</a> <a href="https://t.co/L2uAhgRGtq">https://t.co/L2uAhgRGtq</a></p>— LV= Insurance County Championship (@CountyChamp) <a href="https://twitter.com/CountyChamp/status/1654510513051533314?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 5, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[MenInG]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Savour the batting of a run-scoring machine<br><br>This is every boundary from Cheteshwar Pujara's 136 at Worcestershire<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/LVCountyChamp?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#LVCountyChamp</a> <a href="https://t.co/UFBATLIzih">pic.twitter.com/UFBATLIzih</a></p>— LV= Insurance County Championship (@CountyChamp) <a href="https://twitter.com/CountyChamp/status/1654559737239805952?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 5, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[MenInG]

Danish Kaneria:

"Cheteshwar Pujara played County cricket for over two months ahead of the WTC final. Interestingly, he played in the same County. Despite playing for Sussex, he was not able to manage it. This indicates that the bowlers in County cricket were weak, and he got runs,"

"The Australian bowlers were far better, and he couldn't deliver against them. He played and practiced on the kind of wicket for a couple of months and was well aware of the conditions, but still, he was unable to play a top-notch innings,"

 

[MenInG]

Legendary Indian cricket team opener Sunil Gavaskar was not happy with the decision to drop Cheteshwar Pujara for the upcoming Test series against West indies. Pujara had a disappointing run of form in the World Test Championship (WTC) Final where India were completely outplayed by Australia at the Oval. Gavaskar was not convinced with the decision to drop Pujara and said that he should not be made a 'scapegoat' after most Indian batters failed to perform against Australia. The legend added that Pujara knows what to do in red-ball cricket and can continue to play for a few more years.

"Why has he been dropped? Why has he been made the scapegoat for our batting failures. He has been a loyal servant of India cricket. A loyal and quiet servant. A loyal and quiet achiever. But because he does not have millions of followers on platforms who will make a noise in case he gets dropped, you drop him. That is something beyond understanding. What is the criteria of dropping him and keeping the others who failed? I do not know because nowadays, there is no media interaction with the selection committee chairman," Gavaskar said in an interaction with Sports Today.

"He has been playing country cricket. So, he has played a lot of red-call cricket and he knows what it is about. Today, people can play till they are 39-40 years old and as long as you are producing runs, I do not think age should be a factor. Apart from (Ajinkya) Rahane, the batting completely failed. Why Pujara has been made the fall guy is something the selectors will have to explain," he added.

Test veteran Cheteshwar Pujara's extended batting slump has seen him left out of India's upcoming trip to the West Indies as selectors announced squads for the tour on Friday.

Up-and-coming batsmen Yashasvi Jaiswal and Ruturaj Gaikwad have been included in the 16-member squad for a two-Test series starting July 12 in Windsor Park, Dominica.

Jaiswal, 21, and Gaikwad, 26, were among the top run-getters in this year's Indian Premier League tournament and have been tipped as the future of Indian batting.

The duo come in at the expense of Pujara, 35, whose prolonged run drought included a disappointing 14 and 27 in India's loss to Australia in this month's World Test Championship final.

NDTV

 

[cricketjoshila]

Legendary Indian cricket team opener Sunil Gavaskar was not happy with the decision to drop Cheteshwar Pujara for the upcoming Test series against West indies. Pujara had a disappointing run of form in the World Test Championship (WTC) Final where India were completely outplayed by Australia at the Oval. Gavaskar was not convinced with the decision to drop Pujara and said that he should not be made a 'scapegoat' after most Indian batters failed to perform against Australia. The legend added that Pujara knows what to do in red-ball cricket and can continue to play for a few more years.

"Why has he been dropped? Why has he been made the scapegoat for our batting failures. He has been a loyal servant of India cricket. A loyal and quiet servant. A loyal and quiet achiever. But because he does not have millions of followers on platforms who will make a noise in case he gets dropped, you drop him. That is something beyond understanding. What is the criteria of dropping him and keeping the others who failed? I do not know because nowadays, there is no media interaction with the selection committee chairman," Gavaskar said in an interaction with Sports Today.

"He has been playing country cricket. So, he has played a lot of red-call cricket and he knows what it is about. Today, people can play till they are 39-40 years old and as long as you are producing runs, I do not think age should be a factor. Apart from (Ajinkya) Rahane, the batting completely failed. Why Pujara has been made the fall guy is something the selectors will have to explain," he added.

Test veteran Cheteshwar Pujara's extended batting slump has seen him left out of India's upcoming trip to the West Indies as selectors announced squads for the tour on Friday.

Up-and-coming batsmen Yashasvi Jaiswal and Ruturaj Gaikwad have been included in the 16-member squad for a two-Test series starting July 12 in Windsor Park, Dominica.

Jaiswal, 21, and Gaikwad, 26, were among the top run-getters in this year's Indian Premier League tournament and have been tipped as the future of Indian batting.

The duo come in at the expense of Pujara, 35, whose prolonged run drought included a disappointing 14 and 27 in India's loss to Australia in this month's World Test Championship final.

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Gavaskar not mincing words. He is absolutely right. Players have PR firms for them on Social media platforms. Rohit and Virat have the biggest PR campaigns. KL is perhaps next.

The joke is that Rahane comes back after 1 year and is made VC after 1 Match.

The selectors are jokers.

 

[jnaveen1980]

Gavaskar not mincing words. He is absolutely right. Players have PR firms for them on Social media platforms. Rohit and Virat have the biggest PR campaigns. KL is perhaps next.

The joke is that Rahane comes back after 1 year and is made VC after 1 Match.

The selectors are jokers.

No he is not. I understand his point about not going after other non performers. But dropping Pujara was not a msitake. Recalling Pujara itself is a mistake. Pujara is not exactly playing for elite division team in county. He is playing for second division. Any runs he makes there should be taken with a pinch of salt. There should be no weightage. Even Rahane's runs in domestic run came on roads against easier teams.

 

[Saurav]

Gavaskar not mincing words. He is absolutely right. Players have PR firms for them on Social media platforms. Rohit and Virat have the biggest PR campaigns. KL is perhaps next.

The joke is that Rahane comes back after 1 year and is made VC after 1 Match.

The selectors are jokers.

If Rahane is selected, its a good idea to make him VC, specially with Rohit missing half the matches.

Good team for Tests. But messed up in ODIs

 

[Savak]

He played a vital role in India's two legendary test series wins in Australia. He can live off these achievements for the rest of his life without doing anything else. Early on everyone felt he was India's Virat Kohli in test matches but overall he never fulfilled the expectations.

 

[jnaveen1980]

He played a vital role in India's two legendary test series wins in Australia. He can live off these achievements for the rest of his life without doing anything else. Early on everyone felt he was India's Virat Kohli in test matches but overall he never fulfilled the expectations.

Everyone thought he was India' next Rahul Dravid. Dravid was an elite player of swing bowling. Probably one of
the best India ever produced. Pujara is one of the worst.

 

[happydavy]

He played a vital role in India's two legendary test series wins in Australia. He can live off these achievements for the rest of his life without doing anything else. Early on everyone felt he was India's Virat Kohli in test matches but overall he never fulfilled the expectations.

That's exactly he has done, lived off 1 good tour to Australia. Ideally Rahane and Kohli should also be dropped and replaced with youngsters because this trio has been incredibly ordinary middle order since past many years but atleast dropping him is a start. Hopefully rest would either perform or be dropped soon.

 

[cricketjoshila]

If Rahane is selected, its a good idea to make him VC, specially with Rohit missing half the matches.

Good team for Tests. But messed up in ODIs

Rahane played one test in 16 months and is VC. They have made the VC post a joke.

Good team?

Why are Mukesh Kumar or Unadkat in the team?

Why is Gaikwad in the team?

 

[cricketjoshila]

Everyone thought he was India' next Rahul Dravid. Dravid was an elite player of swing bowling. Probably one of
the best India ever produced. Pujara is one of the worst.

Actually it was pujara who was thought to be a Dravid replacement. But knee injuries limited his footwork. The fact that he still has 5k test runs @44 is a testimony to his hardwork.

 

[U$ofA]

Would think it is the end of the road for Pujara.

Rohit should call it a day with the WC. Not sure how much longer Rahane will go on.

Pretty much a whole new batting line up coming for India.

 

[Hitman]

Rohit, Pujara, Kohli, Rahane, Rahul …. all of them need to make way from our Test team.

 

[Ab Fan]

Hopefully, it is the end of the line for Pujara as far as his test career is concerned.

When it comes to overseas performance, his efforts in Australia tour of 2018 was commendable but outside of that, he has never been prolific in overseas tours.

 

[Hitman]

Hopefully, it is the end of the line for Pujara as far as his test career is concerned.

When it comes to overseas performance, his efforts in Australia tour of 2018 was commendable but outside of that, he has never been prolific in overseas tours.

Test cricket is the only format he was decent at.

 

[MenInG]

Veteran Indian cricket team batter Cheteshwar Pujara made a strong case for his return to Test cricket with a record-extending double century in Ranji Trophy. Pujara slammed his 17th double ton in first-class cricket during Saurashtra's Ranji Trophy encounter against Jharkhand in Rajkot. India will face England in a five-match Test series starting January 25 and with the squad announcement expected soon, the double century can prove to be an extremely crucial statement of intent from Pujara to the selectors.

With his 17th double ton, Pujara became joint fourth in the list of most double centuries in first-class cricket along with Herbert Sutcliffe and Mark Ramprakash. Sir Donald Bradman tops the list with 37 double centuries with Wally Hammond of England in second position with 36.

Pujara also overtook VVS Laxman to become fourth in the list of Indian batters with most first-class runs and he is only behind Sunil Gavaskar, Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid.

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