Cheteshwar Pujara was enjoying great success in the ongoing Ranji Trophy 2024 and had his eyes set on an India Test comeback. But his aspirations have been squandered by two consecutive low scores in the Saurashtra vs Maharashtra match.
With the Indian batting barring Yashasvi Jaiswal misfiring, Pujara had the opportunity to throw his name in for selection but has scored just 3 runs across two innings in Saurashtra’s fifth match of the season.
The 36-year-old had scored 535 runs in six innings before he went to Solapur to play against Maharashtra. In the first inning, he scored 3 runs and was dismissed by left-arm orthodox spinner Hitesh Walunj.
On what was a tricky pitch, Saurashtra scored just 202 runs, getting dismissed in 60.1 overs. Despite their low score, they gained a 43-run lead. However, they suffered even more disappointment, bundling out for 164 with Cheteshwar Pujara registering a duck in six balls against Walunj once again.
In a matter of two days, his average went from 107 to 76.85, and he was overtaken by Ricky Bhui and Narayan Jagadeesan on the leading run-scorers list. But that’s not all he’s lost.
If Pujara had stood up and performed in tough conditions, selectors may have looked his way once again, with Shubman Gill failing once again in the India vs England 2nd Test in Vizag.
