IND vs WI 2023: Cheteshwar Pujara Dropped from Test team, Is this the end of the road for batter?

On Friday (June 23), the BCCI Senior Selection Committee dropped senior India batter Cheteshwar Pujara from the Test squad that would go to the West Indies for a two-match series beginning July 12.

The Rohit Sharma-led side, which was defeated by Australia in the WTC Final 2023 at The Oval earlier this month, has two new faces in the batting department, Yashasvi Jaiswal and Ruturaj Gaikwad, with one of them likely to bat at number three instead of Pujara.

Cheteshwar Pujara in WTC Final

Pujara, who struggled in both innings of the WTC final, was unable to gain the confidence of the selectors, who chose not to pick the Saurashtra player. Pujara scored 14 and 27 points against Australia in the ICC final, but it was his shot selection that drew criticism.

Meanwhile, his teammate Ajinkya Rahane, who struck a fighting fifty in his comeback match, has been re-appointed as the side’s vice-captain. Rahane, who came in as an injury replacement for Shreyas Iyer, took most of the occasion and scored crucial runs for the team.

Pujara axed from Indian Test team in 2022

When Pujara and Rahane were dismissed from the Test squad before of the home series against Sri Lanka last year, the then-chairman of selectors Chetan Sharma stated that the doors were not closed for the gutsy No.3 and that he could return to first-class cricket and earn.

The right-handed hitter returned to County Cricket and played for Sussex, where he scored loads of runs and was recalled for the one-off Test against England in 2022, as well as a chance to reach the century mark in the series against Australia this year.

Pujara’s fortunes were hampered by his continuous fall

However, the 35-year-old appeared to be falling down the pecking order following a consistently bad performance during the home series against Australia, where he scored 7, 0, 31*, 1, 59, and 42 in four home games. From the start, it appeared as if the right-handed hitter would not earn a longer rope if he failed in the WTC Final.

“Once he failed in the Australia series at home, there was very little chance for him, but selectors didn’t want to change things ahead of the WTC final,” a BCCI source familiar with the situation told PTI on condition of anonymity.

“Two Oval failures sealed his fate.” SS Das was in London for the World Touring Car Championship final. “He must have spoken with head coach Rahul Dravid and informed his panel’s post-final thought-process,” the source added.

Selectors shift their attention away from Pujara and toward the future

If the Saurashtra batter’s innings of 90 and 102 against Bangladesh last year are excluded, he has scored at a dismal average of 26 over the last three years and may have received a very long rope for non-performance. The Indian cricket team’s batting has been a source of concern during the 2021-23 WTC Cycle, and Pujara’s waning form was one of the reasons.

“It’s a two-year cycle, and you can’t make drastic changes.” Pujara hasn’t scored in three years. The rhythm has been the difference between a Virat Kohli and a Pujara. Yes, Kohli had a dry spell, but he never looked out of shape.

“Pujara never gave you confidence that he was in rhythm after the Australia tour.” Intention was another matter. “The two knocks against Bangladesh were hardly significant,” the insider stated.

Pujara amassed a ton of runs in the County Championships across all forms last season and this year. He hasn’t been able to repeat those figures in international cricket. With young players like Yashasvi Jaiswal and Ruturaj Gaikwad waiting in the wings for a chance, the selectors appear to have made the decision to look beyond Pujara.

Cheteshwar Pujara’s career is not over yet

However, given the type of player and temperament the 35-year-old possesses, you never know. He could go to the domestic circuit and meditate on the pitch, grind bowlers to death, and possibly earn another India call-up. With his fondness for running, it won’t be surprising if Pujara makes a strong comeback and silences his detractors.

Experts believe it is still too early to dismiss Pujara because the team management hasn’t thoroughly tested the bench, and against a worthy opponent, they may have to rely on a seasoned campaigner to capture crucial points in WTC 2023-25 Cycle.

Also Read: 5 Statements by Cricket Commentators That Made Silence Seem Preferable (cricfiles.com)