Cheteshwar Pujara Responds to Exclusion from England Tour, Says He's Ready if Called

Cheteshwar Pujara Responds to Exclusion from England Tour, Says He's Ready if Called

Last Updated May - 29 - 2025, 05:21 PM | Source : Fela News

With Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Ravichandran Ashwin having retired, and Mohammed Shami left out due to fitness concerns, India’s current Test squad touring England—led by Shubman Gill—is among the least experienced in recent history. The absence of seasoned batters like Kohli and Rohit has significantly weakened the batting line-up. This has sparked questions about whether the selectors should have considered recalling veterans like Cheteshwar Pujara or Ajinkya Rahane, as has been done in the past.

Reports indicate that current head coach Gautam Gambhir had previously pushed for Pujara's inclusion in the squad for the Australia tour, but the selectors rejected the idea. Whether he made a similar request this time remains unclear. When asked by Lallantop if Gambhir had contacted him prior to the squad announcement, Pujara responded, "No, not yet."

Pujara, a veteran of 103 Tests, said he remains ready to play if given the opportunity. “I’m prepared. I don’t know if they’ll pick me, but if the chance comes, it will be an honour to represent India again. As long as you’re fit and performing well in domestic cricket, and putting in the preparation, you always hope for a chance,” he said. His remarks came just a day before the team was announced.

However, the Ajit Agarkar-led selection committee chose not to bring back either Pujara or Rahane. Instead, they opted for a youthful approach—appointing Shubman Gill as captain and Rishabh Pant as vice-captain. Tamil Nadu’s Sai Sudharsan received his maiden Test call-up, while Karun Nair was recalled after eight years.

Though Pujara has found significant success in Australia—amassing 521 runs in 2018 and 271 in 2021—his record in England has been underwhelming. In 14 Tests, he averages 31 and has scored 806 runs, including just one century.

Addressing the earlier reports of Gambhir advocating for his inclusion during the Australia series, Pujara expressed disappointment but confidence in his ability to contribute. “I can't say much about selection, but I had hoped for a chance in Australia. Given my track record there, I believed I could have contributed meaningfully. The team started well in the first Test but couldn’t maintain the momentum. Overseas conditions—be it Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, or England—are always challenging. When players struggle, they face a lot of criticism, but it’s important to recognise how hard they work and prepare. That pressure needs to be managed wisely,” he concluded.

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