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Cheteshwar Pujara last featured for India in the Test arena during the WTC 2023 final at The Oval in London, marking his final appearance in the longest format. With 103 Test matches to his name, Pujara was a mainstay in the Indian batting lineup until the last World Test Championship cycle. However, as India shifts its focus towards future talent, Pujara, along with Ajinkya Rahane, was excluded from the Test squad.
As India gears up for another crucial Test season, former Pakistan cricketer Basit Ali has reignited the discussion about Pujara’s potential recall. Ali previously questioned Pujara’s omission from the Duleep Trophy 2024 and suggested that Pujara would have been a valuable asset for the 2024-25 tour of Australia had he remained in consideration.
On August 14, the BCCI announced the four squads for the initial round of the Duleep Trophy 2024, set to commence on September 5. Notably, Cheteshwar Pujara, along with Ajinkya Rahane, Sanju Samson, and Rinku Singh, was left out of the selected teams.
In a video posted on Hafiz Muhammad Imran’s YouTube channel, the former Pakistan batsman has issued a warning to India, highlighting concerns about their batting strength in Australia, particularly in the absence of Cheteshwar Pujara.
He emphasized that without Pujara, the Indian lineup would be heavily reliant on Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli to deliver runs against Australia.
Pujara has notable statistics against Australia, having amassed 2,074 runs in 25 Test matches at an average of 49.38, including five centuries and eleven fifties.
Basit Ali supports the inclusion of Cheteshwar Pujara in the squad for the tour of Australia.
“Not picking the likes of Pujara and Rahane in the Duleep Trophy squads is a signal that had they performed, they would have been eligible to be considered for selection for the Test series at home against Bangladesh and New Zealand and also against Australia,” said the 53-year-old Basit Ali.
“Without Cheteshwar Pujara, the Indian batting lineup will face problems in Australia. If Pujara travels with the side, India have a good chance to win the series and complete a hat-trick. If he does not go to Australia, the Indian batting will heavily depend on the likes of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli,” Basit Ali added further.
India has secured victories in their last two Test series against Australia, in 2019-20 and 2020-21, and now has the opportunity to complete a hat-trick of wins. Gautam Gambhir and the new support staff face the challenge of assembling a squad capable of withstanding the formidable Australian bowling attack.
Australia’s pace trio—Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, and Josh Hazlewood—are anticipated to pose significant difficulties for the Indian batters on their home turf.
Before heading to Australia, India will face Bangladesh and New Zealand in home Test matches, providing an opportunity to boost their World Test Championship (WTC) points and increase their lead over Australia. Currently, India leads the WTC points table, with Australia in second place.
