Away from the Indian Test team, Cheteshwar Pujara continues to construct a mountain of runs in First-Class cricket, with the hope that the doors for the Indian team would once again open for him. At the age of 36, it’s difficult for any batter to make an international comeback, especially if the management is looking to give long rope to younger players. But, the fire hasn’t yet died in the heart of Pujara, with the player eager to relive the ‘proudest moment’ of his career, which is to represent his nation.
In an interview, Pujara spoke about the proud feeling if walking onto the pitch to represent the Indian national team. For the veteran Test batter, there’s no better feeling.
“My proudest moment was to represent the Indian team. There is pride when I walk out to bat for India, there is nothing bigger than that. That feeling that you can win games for your country, that you can make a difference – call it X-factor or a player who will fight for the country to win a game, there is no greater feeling than that on earth.
Milestone Unlocked
First-Class runs for Cheteshwar Pujara!
He becomes the 4th Indian batter to reach this landmark #TeamIndia | @cheteshwar1 pic.twitter.com/wnuNWsvCfH
— BCCI Domestic (@BCCIdomestic) January 21, 2024
“Whenever the opportunity to play for India comes, I will be ready to play with that passion and pride that’s needed and with which I have always played. That will never change,” Pujara was quoted as saying by the Indian Express.
In the ongoing Ranji Trophy campaign, Pujara has already scored 673 runs at an average of 74.77. Yet, he wasn’t named in the India squad for the last three Tests against England by the BCCI selection committee.
The board has picked the likes of Devdutt Padikkal, Sarfaraz Khan and Rajat Patidar among the next-gen batters as the likes of Virat Kohli and KL Rahul remain absent due to different reasons, while Shreyas Iyer has been dropped, owing to poor form.
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