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.

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

 

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