"The Indian team needs a batsman like him": Cheteshwar Pujara`s father Arvind

On a tour like England, where prior experience is invaluable, Cheteshwar Pujara’s father Arvind believes his son can make a valuable contribution. Pujara is a veteran of 103 Tests, which is much more than any member of the current Indian team. » P24

Lack of cap count 

The nearest to Pujara, in terms of number of Tests played, is left-arm spin bowling all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja (80 Tests), followed by pacer Mohammed Shami (64) and top-order batter KL Rahul (58). Interestingly, pace ace Jasprit Bumrah and top-order batter Shubman Gill, both of whom are captaincy candidates for India’s five-Test tour of England, following the retirements of Test captain Rohit Sharma and batting great Virat Kohli, have played 45 and 32 Tests respectively. 

Cheteshwar Pujara during the World Test Championship final against Australia at The Oval, England, in 2023. Pic/Getty Images

“Being the senior-most player, I feel they [Ajit Agarkar-led national selection committee] should give him [Pujara] a chance in the England tour. He is fit and in good form and will definitely help the team’s cause in English conditions. The Indian team needs a batsman like him, who can stay on the wicket for long,” Pujara Sr, 74, a former Saurashtra Ranji Trophy cricketer, told mid-day over the phone from Rajkot on Wednesday.

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Pujara, 37, has scored 7195 Test runs, including 19 centuries. During the last Ranji Trophy season, Pujara scored 402 runs in seven games, including a 383-ball marathon knock of 234 against Chhattisgarh. He also did well during his County Championship stint with Sussex last year, scoring 501 runs in six matches, with two centuries. Besides, Pujara has made five Test trips to England, where he played 16 Tests, accumulated 870 runs, scored one century and five fifties. 

Arvind Pujara. Pic Courtesy/Cheteshwar Pujara`s Instagram

‘Still scoring big runs’

It is this rich experience that Pujara Sr is stressing on. “Cheteshwar hasn’t stopped playing cricket. He played six-seven County matches last season and also scored a double hundred in the Ranji Trophy,” added Arvind, who has also been his son’s first coach through his younger days. 

‘He can make a difference’

Puraja last played a Test against Australia almost two years ago, at The Oval in June 2023, but Arvind believes that is no hindrance for a successful comeback. “He [Cheteshwar] is very open-minded. If they select him, he will play. He can definitely make a comeback. He can make a huge difference given his rich county experience. There are very few Indian players, who have played 100-plus Tests. There are big names like Sunil Gavaskar, Kapil Dev, Dilip Vengsarkar and Sachin Tendulkar among others, and there is Cheteshwar. It’s extremely tough to play 100 Test. 

This is why I believe he deserves one more chance being India’s senior-most Test player at the moment,” Pujara Sr signed off.

This article first appeared on Mid Day