India’s third-leading run-scorer of the World Test Championship and one of the most dependable cricketers in the middle order, Cheteshwar Pujara has been dropped from the upcoming away tour against West Indies. Notably, playing for Sussex in the County Championship, the 35-year-old hit 545 runs in six matches and thus, he was expected to play a big role for the Rohit Sharma-led side in the WTC final 2023.
However, the batter failed massively, scoring 14 and 27 runs respectively in both innings. India eventually went on to lose the match by 209 runs and as things stand, Pujara will have to fight really hard in order to get back into the squad. Notably, the Rajkot-born batter represented the national team in 103 Test matches, scoring 7195 runs in the process. He looked undroppable at one point but his performance in the WTC final looks to have played a massive part in him getting dropped.
In his absence, Ajinkya Rahane has been handed the role of India’s vice-captain in the longest format of the game. On the other hand, Yashasvi Jaiswal is very likely to replace him in the playing XI, after the UP-born cricketer had a brilliant season with Mumbai in the last Ranji Trophy.
Meanwhile, Pujara is very likely to continue playing County Cricket. He might join the Saurashtra squad during Ranji and if he manages to do well, the cricketer can very well make his return to the India squad. Notably, after Rahane was dropped last year, the 35-year-old grind hard in the domestic circuit, and eventually got a call-up in the national squad for the WTC final and managed to end up as India’s leading run-scorer in the final.
Thus, going forward, Pujara will have to get better with the bat and his fitness will also be closely monitored. Interestingly, during the final against Australia, Rohit Sharma expressed his disappointment with Pujara’s fitness on the field, the video of which later went viral on social media. Thus, in order to make a comeback, the cricketer will have to improve on a lot of things at the moment.
Here’s how Twitter reacted –
Dropping Cheteshwar Pujara from Tests is another blunder from the selection committee. Just one test match doesn’t decide the player’s real ability. Pujara has been back in the form in the last few series but the tradition of dropping one senior player is not new.#INDVSWI #India
— Ayush (@Ayushm1305) June 23, 2023
Cheteshwar Pujara dropped from the West Indies Test series. pic.twitter.com/wQZT58Npdb
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) June 23, 2023
Cheteshwar Pujara has been dropped from the Indian Test team, Rituraj Gaikwad or Yashasvi Jaiswal may get a chance to replace him. BCCI will never desist from its old antics. First you drop Rahane from the Test team, then after a few months you make him the vice captain.
— Ashwïñî Rìshåbh Sïñgh (@RishabhAshwini) June 23, 2023
Big news, Cheteshwar Pujara drop from squad on West Indies test series. pic.twitter.com/HEBW1IAvIn
— Aman Awasthi (@AwasiAman17) June 23, 2023
So, is it over for Cheteshwar Pujara, Mohammad Shami and Umesh Yadav ?
— khushanshu (@no1khush) June 23, 2023
No Indian will ever forget how Pujara played the Gabba innings…. No Indian can ever forget those match winning knocks he has played
Yashasvi Jaiswal might be our new number 3… But we will never forget Puji’s contribution. Thank you ChePu ❤️💪 pic.twitter.com/ubYJYFeZB5
— Vinesh Prabhu (@vlp1994) June 23, 2023
It has been a fabulous career, he was at the heart of the two great series wins in Australia in 2018/21, but I am not writing a Pujara obit yet. We almost wrote one for Rahane and he was India’s best batter in the WTC final. And is now the vice-captain. But yes, the Pujara…
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) June 23, 2023
Pujara dropped from the West Indies test squad due to recent poor performances. So, who will emerge as India’s new test specialist batsman as Pujara filled the space of Dravid or Indian cricket team moving towards a “bazball” approach like England??? pic.twitter.com/G3nA0kMGt5
— Vector (@AnIrf_0) June 23, 2023
Gaikwad and Jaiswal in Test squad is heartening. Fresh blood needed. Sad though if we’ve the last of Pujara and Umesh in India colours? They were only part of the WTC final fiasco, not major cause. K L Rahul and Bumrah still struggling with injuries worrying for WC.
— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) June 23, 2023
Have we seen the last of Pujara? Unfortunate, if it really is #CricketTwitter
— Dodda Ganesh ದೊಡ್ಡ ಗಣೇಶ್ (@doddaganesha) June 23, 2023
Anil Kumble was a better choice back then as coach. His disciplinary tactics would hv created friction but raised a better team gradually that would hv lifted multiple meaningful trophies in Test & ODIs. But today we sense total collapse when one sees Pujara dropped n not Kohli.
— Rishi (@whatrishisaid) June 23, 2023
Why would they drop Pujara? Pretty senseless. He only plays test. I’m sure Pujara will comeback soon.
— Namrata (@namratrm) June 23, 2023
I knew the brunt will fall on @cheteshwar1. It just validates the fact that @BCCI doesn’t treat all players equally. Thanks Pujara for all the happiness. Only true cricket fan can recognise your immense contributions. Wins down under weren’t possible without your contribution.
— Vivek Rana MD, DM (@drvivekrana15) June 23, 2023
People on the timeline are wishing Pujara thank you for his services lol. Trust BCCI to bring him back for next year’s WTC Final because our player will definitely get injured.
— Aditya Saha (@Adityakrsaha) June 23, 2023
Jaiswal come in the test squad but pujara out ….why?
— a.a.h (@mr__ahmy__14) June 23, 2023
Pathetic Management, Disgusting Decision #CheteshwarPujara
— Rishabh Beniwal (@RishabhBeniwal) June 23, 2023