Indian batter Cheteshwar Pujara has expressed his hunger to return for the tests in the England series later this June. His statement comes after India’s 3-1 defeat against Australia in the Border Gavaskar Trophy.
Pujara’s last appearance in the tests comes from WTCh 2023 where he registered the figures of 14 and 27. Since then he has been plundering runs in domestic cricket but he couldn’t make way back into the Indian team.
The Indian test team is going through one of its worst phases in recent times as they lost back-to-back series against New Zealand and Australia. Rohit Sharma-led sides also failed to qualify for the World Test Championship (WTC) final for the first time.
Following India’s loss, Pujara’s absence was discussed as he had played a pivotal role in the team’s previous two triumphs down under in 2018-19 and 2020-21.
“I’m playing domestic cricket. If given a chance, I’m ready to grab it with both hands. The hunger is even more. When you are older, you need to work even harder.”
“We have the bowling. We need to put runs on the board. And we have the players to do that. We have to respect the bowling and the conditions. I won’t say that we don’t have a chance,” said Pujara.
India will tour England for a five-match test series starting on June 20. The series will also mark the beginning of India’s next cycle of the World Test Championship.
Pujara also shared his thoughts about several experts and pundits claiming that India have an advantage of playing all their matches in Dubai.
The Indian batter said that the only reason Men in Blues is playing in Dubai is because they couldn’t go to Pakistan.
“I don’t think so. The schedule was put out before the start of the tournament. The tournament is being played in a hybrid model because India couldn’t go to Pakistan due to security reasons,” he added.
Meanwhile, India will lock horns with New Zealand in the finals of the Champions Trophy scheduled to be played on March 09 at Dubai International Stadium.
