Cheteshwar Pujara earns India Test squad recall after county stint
Cheteshwar Pujara has earned a recall to the 17-member Indian Test team to tour England after a stupendous show in the English County Championship for Sussex.
Mark Hoover
Pujara, who made his Test debut back in October 2010, has scored 6713 runs including 18 hundreds and 32 fifties in 95 Tests at an average of 43.87. But had dip in form last year.
Following a torrid spell for team India in Tests, Test specialist Pujara was axed from the squad in the last red-ball assignment for the national side at home against Sri Lanka.
While he scored 227 runs in 4 Tests during the tour of England last year, Pujara scored just 95 in 2 Tests vs New Zealand and followed that with just 124 runs in 3 Tests vs South Africa.
Playing for Saurashtra in the Ranji Trophy, Pujara had hit 91 against Mumbai and 64 not out against Goa to regain some form.
However, he found his full flow and touch to gain a recall to the national team setup after a successful stint in the English county with Sussex.
The 34-year-old Pujara scored 720 runs in five Division 2 games for Sussex, which included two double hundreds and two hundreds.
vs Derbyshire 6 & 201*
vs Wrocestershire 109 & 12
vs Durham 203
vs Middlesex 16 & 170*
vs Leicestershire 3
Pujara for Sussex
That stint with Sussex forced the Indian selection committee to give Pujara a call-up for the fifth match of the Test series against England, which was postponed last year.
"I am glad to have been selected for the England Test, and happy that my recent county performances were recognized," Pujara told PTI.
The fifth Test, which was postponed last year due to a COVID-19 outbreak in the Indian camp, is scheduled from July 1 to 5 in Birmingham.