Cheteshwar Pujara is a modern day great of Indian cricket. A vital hand in both of India’s recent Test series wins in Australia, Pujara, with over 6,000 Test runs to his name, has been a rock in the Indian top order for the best part of the last decade.

He is not, however, known for his exploits in T20 cricket. In fact, it’s been seven years since his last appearance in the IPL and his career strike-rate of 109.35 in T20 cricket is hardly going to set pulses racing among the current cohort of data-led squad planners.

It was perhaps the surprising nature of his selection for Chennai Super Kings in today’s auction that elicited a heartwarming reaction from the audience.

After being picked up for his base price of 50 lakhs, the auction audience responded with a gentle round of applause, something generally not afforded to the other players involved in the auction.

Pujara’s IPL gig may put into his mooted move to the County Championship ahead of India’s tour of England – which may also include the World Test Championship final – into doubt.

You can watch the moment when Pujara was a picked up here:

A round of applause 👏🏻 at the @Vivo_India #IPLAuction as @cheteshwar1 is SOLD to @ChennaiIPL. pic.twitter.com/EmdHxdqdTJ

— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) February 18, 2021