Cheteshwar Pujara has been dropped from the India Test squad that will face West Indies next month and faces uncertainty over the future of his illustrious, 13-year-long career.

Pujara burst onto the scene in 2010 against Australia and lived up to the reputation of being India’s next ‘Wall’, succeeding Rahul Dravid, for his ability to blunt bowling attacks by batting long periods. Though his strike rate of 44.36 did find criticism over the years, he emerged as a talisman at No.3, playing a number of memorable knocks under pressure.

However, an extended dip in form and his subsequent ouster from the team today (June 23) have led to murmurs that the finish line has arrived for Pujara. He averages just over 25 in five Tests in 2023, and 30.11 in the last three years. His only hundred in this period was against Bangladesh in December 2022, and knocks of 7, 0, 31*, 1, 59, 42, 14 and 27 this year have put an end to his place in the XI as India start a period of transition.

The selectors have picked Yashasvi Jaiswal and Ruturaj Gaikwad in the squad, with the duo expected to battle it out for Pujara’s spot in the Caribbean.

While Pujara has been omitted, Ajinkya Rahane, who was out of the Test side since January 2022 and only made a comeback for the World Test Championship final after a stellar IPL, has been promoted and has been named the vice-captain of the team. It has made pundits hopeful that a fine domestic season could bring the 35-year-old back into contention, though some accepted it could be the last we have seen of Pujara in India colours.

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

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

You feel for #Pujara that he is not part of WI tour. But, Rahane’s remarkable comeback and now vice captaincy will tell you you are never over in Indian cricket until you give up yourself. Can there be another fairy tale comeback for Pujara? pic.twitter.com/6x3X8XbqQa

— Vimal कुमार (@Vimalwa) June 23, 2023

2022: Pujara goes to play county cricket, Rahane stays at IPL. Pujara makes a comeback. Cricket Twitter hails him for prioritizing county over IPL.

2023: Pujara goes to play county, Rahane stays at IPL. Rahane makes a comeback. Pujara loses his spot. Rahane becomes VC again

— Shubh Aggarwal (@shubh_chintak) June 23, 2023

Cheteshwar Pujara has had an incredible. For 2 tours of Australia Indian cricket will forever be indebted. But as all good things come to an end, this is likely end of pujara's India career. Top player top man. Player of COURAGE#Pujara

— Kushan Sarkar (@kushansarkar) June 23, 2023

Some, however, questioned his absence despite being India’s top run-scorer in the format in the last 12 months.

Rohit Sharma is 36. Cheteshwar Pujara is 35. Yet, the phasing out begins with the latter, even when he has been in better form, and has been one of the very very few batsmen who has actually showed a spine in touring games. The ICT is in a self-destruction mode.

— Tushar Gupta (@Tushar15_) June 23, 2023

In the last 12 months, Pujara has, among Indians in Test cricket:

Most runs (482)
Most 50+ scores (4)
Highest average among specialist bats with 3 innings (40.16)

This is not a drop based on performance. This is phasing out.

— Abhishek Mukherjee (@ovshake42) June 23, 2023

Average comparison since Rohit Sharma's comeback as an opener. Pujara is not the only player whose average has dropped consistently.

Kohli (for his hundred at Ahmedabad) and Rahane (for his WTC Final knocks) shouldn't get too many chances if they keep failing.#WIvIND #INDvWI pic.twitter.com/HRkuzT5K08

— Ajinkya Dhamdhere (@ajinkyasd) June 23, 2023