Gates failed to close on Cheteshwar Pujara after IND vs WI snub, Test specialist to play in Duleep Trophy - News Block

Eliminated from the IND vs WI Test series, Cheteshwar Pujara will perform in the West Zone at the upcoming Duleep Trophy…

Knocked out of the IND vs WI Test series, Cheteshwar Pujara will participate in the West Zone in the upcoming 2023 Duleep Trophy. The competition marks the start of the Indian domestic season, with Pujara boosting an already strong West Zone team. The 35-year-old will be joined by his discard partner Suryakumar Yadav.

Hours after the BCCI announced the teams for India’s tour of the West Indies, Cheteshwar Pujara and Suryakumar Yadav were added to the West Zone squad for the Duleep Trophy. At 35, Pujara’s days in international cricket are numbered. The WI series is the start of India’s plans to phase out veterans and start the transition.

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Gates failed to close on Cheteshwar Pujara after IND vs WI snub, Test specialist to play in Duleep Trophy — LONDON, ENGLAND – JUNE 9: Cheteshwar Pujara of India during day three of the ICC World Test Championship Final between Australia and India at The Oval on June 9, 2023 in London, England. (Photo by Gareth Copley-ICC/ICC via Getty Images)

Despite that, the door is not closed for Pujara. The test specialist was dropped from the team after the tour of South Africa in 2021. However, he made a comeback thanks to racing in the County Championship. Pujara will again have to show his mettle in domestic cricket to be bound by Rahul Dravid’s schemes.

“The selectors and the coach (Rahul Dravid) wanted to test youngsters like Jaiswal and Gaikwad, which is why Pujara has not been picked for this tour. If he scores runs in domestic cricket, doors are not closed to him, and that has been communicated to him”. a reliable source told TOI.

Pujara had a forgettable final at the World Test Championship, with scores of 14 and 27. He has a dismal average of 32 in the WTC 21-23 cycle, with only a solitary century to his name. A good show at the Duleep Trophy and County Cricket could keep Pujara in contention for the tour of South Africa later this year.

From July 12-16, Dominica will host India’s first Test, while from July 20-24, Jamaica will host the second and final match. Meanwhile, the Duleep Trophy will start on June 28 and the pinnacle match will start on July 12.

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