Cheteshwar Pujara, a seasoned player who was once crucial to India’s Test batting lineup, has been out of the national team for about a year and nine months. His last game for India was in June 2023 against Australia in the World Test Championship final. Since then, the right-handed batsman hasn’t been selected for the team. As a number 3 Test batsman, Pujara was a mainstay of India’s middle order for many years, amassing 7,195 runs at an average of 43.60, including 19 centuries and 35 half-centuries. However, after being dropped, the team began exploring other options.
Currently playing domestic cricket, Pujara recently spoke about his strong wish to return to the Indian team. Even at 37, he stated that his desire for an India comeback is even stronger now.
‘I am actively playing domestic cricket. If I get an opportunity, I am fully prepared to seize it. My hunger to play for India has only grown. As you get older, you need to put in even more effort,’ Pujara commented.
Pujara was the leading run-scorer in India’s historic 2-1 Test series victory in Australia in 2018-19. He scored 521 runs in 4 matches, averaging 74.42. This series win was particularly significant as it was India’s first-ever Test series win in Australia on their home ground. He was also a part of the Indian team that won again in Australia with the same scoreline in the 2020-21 series.
‘Australia is the toughest opponent in Test cricket. India never wants to lose to Australia. That’s why the 2018 victory felt like winning the World Cup. It was the biggest achievement of my Test career, along with repeating that success in 2020-21,’ Pujara added.
India was unable to achieve a third consecutive series win in Australia, losing the 2024-25 Test series 3-1. The team did not select Pujara and instead gave chances to Devdutt Padikkal, Shubman Gill, and KL Rahul at the number 3 position, but none of them performed consistently in that role.
India’s chances to reach the World Test Championship (WTC) Final ended after a six-wicket defeat to Australia in the fifth Test in Sydney in January. With this win, Australia won the five-match Test series, having previously won in Adelaide and Melbourne. India won the first match in Perth, and the third Test in Brisbane was a draw.
While India missed out on a WTC final spot, Australia qualified for the final along with South Africa.
