Indian batting veteran Cheteshwar Pujara expressed his desire to still play Test cricket for India during the England tour this year, saying that hunger is “even more” and if given a chance, he will grab it with both hands. Out of reckoning for a place in the Indian team for nearly two years, veteran batter Cheteshwar Pujara still nourishes the dream of being a part of the Test team but said he doesn’t have any regrets about the direction his career has taken.
Test veteran Cheteshwar Pujara on Sunday said it will be a challenge for a youngster like Shubman Gill to captain India in tough conditions in England but a big opportunity and confidence booster for him if he achieves success as a leader in the marquee series. Shubman Gill was named new Test captain on Saturday, succeeding Rohit Sharma. The move officially began a new era in the Indian red-ball set-up after the shock retirements of Rohit and Virat Kohli. Rohit and Kohli announced their Test retirements within a span of one week this month.
Cheteshwar Pujara’s stellar record in whites and domestic circuit for India
The 37-year-old veteran Cheteshwar Pujara last played for India during the ICC World Test Championship final against Australia in 2023 in the UK. In 103 Tests for India, he has made 7,195 runs at an average of 43.60, with 19 centuries and 35 fifties. His steely defence, determination and hunger for runs has earned him a place among India’s most revered Test batters.
Cheteshwar Pujara featured for Saurashtra in the Ranji Trophy 2024-25, scoring 402 runs in seven matches and 10 innings at an average of 40.20, with a century and fifty and best score of 234. Since his last match for India, he has featured extensively in domestic cricket and in County cricket for Sussex alike. In England, Cheteshawar Pujara has scored 870 runs in 16 matches at an average of 29.00, with a century and five fifties and a best score of 132*.
Cheteshwar Pujara was the start of India’s Border-Gavaskar Trophy wins in 2018 and 2020-21, troubling Australia with his defence and technique. In the first, he top-scored with 521 runs in four matches at an average of 74.42, three centuries and a fifty. His best score is 193. In the 2020-21 series, he made 271 runs in four matches at an average of 33.87, with three fifties and the best score of 77. In the final Test at The Gabba, he endured a number of body blows from Australian pacers on his body, making the win even more memorable.
On the England tour, which will kickstart India’s ICC World Test Championship 2025-27 cycle from June 20 onwards, Cheteshwar Pujara said that the batting will have to be strong. He also expressed his desire to represent India in England tests if the selection committee permits him to do so.
Cheteshwar Pujara shows his readiness for England Tests
With no Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Ravichandran Ashwin (all retired) and Mohammed Shami (dropped due to unsatisfactory fitness standards), the Shubman Gill-led India side is one of the least experienced ones to tour England for a full Test series. Sans Kohli and Rohit, India’s batting line-up appears pale in comparison.
Could the selectors have thought about Cheteshwar Pujara or Ajinkya Rahane as a stop-gap arrangement .They have done the same in the past. In fact, current India head coach Gautam Gambhir reportedly wanted Pujara in India’s squad for the Australia tour but was denied by the selection committee. Did Gambhir place the same request this time too
When Pujara was asked whether Gambhir had contacted him before the Indian team’s selection meeting, the veteran batter said no.
“No, not yet,” Pujara told Lallantop when he was asked, “Have you received a phone call from Gambhir yet?”
The veteran of 103 Tests said he is ready to fulfil the role of top-order batter if required.
“I am ready. I don’t know if they will take me or not. But if I get a chance, yes, it will be an honour to represent the country again. As a cricketer, you always feel that as long as you are fit, as long as you are contributing, and if I have a good performance in domestic cricket, and I am preparing well, if I get a chance, yes, I will be more than happy to be part of the team,” Pujara said.
Cheteshwar Pujara’s comments came a day before India’s squad announcement. The Ajit Agarkar-led selection did not fall back on either him or Ajinkya Rahane. They instead, decided to invest in youth by appointing Shubman Gill as the captain and Rishabh Pant the vice captain. Tamil Nadu batter Sai Sudharsan earned his maiden Test call-up while Karun Nair was brought back into the side after 8 years.
Unlike in Australia, where Cheteshwar Pujara found a lot of success, scoring 521 runs and 271 runs in India’s victorious campaigns in 2018 and 2019, the right-hander does not particularly have a record boast of. Cheteshwar Pujara averages 31 in England in 14 Tests. He has 806 runs with one century to his name. Cheteshwar Pujara has player 27 Test matches against England, and has played 49 innings. He has scored 1778 runs, accompanied by 5 centuries and 7 half-centuries.
When Cheteshwar Pujara was asked about the reports about Gambhir wanting him in Australia, he said he could have made a difference had he been there.
“Look, I can’t say much about the selection of the team. But I had a lot of hope that if I get a chance in Australia, I would be able to contribute for the team. Because the way my track record is on Australian soil, I had a confidence that if I get a chance there, I might be able to contribute for the team. Secondly, the way the team is playing right now, especially the way the Australian tour started, it was a very promising start. We won the first test match very well.”
“After that, the team’s progression was not so good. But when you play in foreign conditions, whether it is Australia, South Africa, New Zealand or England, it is not easy to win or perform there. So many times, the players get criticism. But I also feel for the players, because the players work very hard and try to prepare very well. And if they don’t succeed there, there is a different pressure for the player. So it is very important to balance that out.”
India and England and going to face each other from June 20 for a five-match Test series. The team selection for this tour is seen going to be done, and youngsters are going to be given a chance to play in this squad. Amid all this, India’s legend Cheteshwar Pujara has shared his thoughts about willing to be named with others.
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