'Inko T20 khilaao' - Fans react as Cheteshwar Pujara is hopeful of making comeback to Indian team

Cheteshwar Pujara (Source: Twitter)

Cheteshwar Pujara has been one of the best Indian batters since his debut. The Gujarat batter is well known for his defensive play. A gritty, hardworking, disciplined, and calm batter he is, Pujara is like a rock when in full flow, he is hard to be dismissed. For the Indian team, Pujara has been a mainstay in the Indian Test team for a very long time.    

The Indian number 3 had great career numbers in Test cricket till the Border Gavaskar Trophy 2018/19. From 2010 to 2019, for 10 years, Pujara played 75 matches and scored 5740 runs at an average of 49.48, at a strike rate of 46.69, including 18 hundred and 24 fifty. Since 2020, things have been bad for the Rajkot-born batter.    

In 28 matches from 2020, Pujara has 1455 runs in the longest format of the game, at an average of just 29.69, at a strike rate of only 37.08, including a lone hundred against Bangladesh and 11 fifty. India has not got the best services from Pujara in the period and had to drop him not once, but twice. The 35-year-old has been in fine form in the One-day Cup 2023 in England.    

Good numbers in One-day Cup 2023 in England 

In the last four matches, the scores of the Indian batter have been 23(31), an unbeaten 106*(119), 56(61), and an unbeaten 117*(113) respectively. In four matches in the tournament, Pujara has scored 302 runs so far at an average of a whopping 151.00, at a strike rate of 94.81, including 2 hundred and a fifty. Pujara was dropped after the WTC final against Australia in June 2023.    

In the big match, Pujara scored 14(25) in the first innings and 27(47) in the second innings. In the calendar year 2023, Pujara has 181 runs in 8 innings at an average of 25.86, at a strike rate of 41.71 with a fifty to his name. While the Indian team dropped Pujara from the Test side, he is confident to make a comeback to the side with good form in the One-day Cup 2023. 

Here's how the fans reacted to the news: 

He fully deserves to be included in the playing 11. Pujara has a lot of runs left in him.

— Shahzeb Khan (@theshahzebkhan) August 13, 2023

Dreaming is free

— msd_stan (@bdrijalab) August 13, 2023

He score in county cricket and when time to perform for the country either he got out or play so slow. So pic.twitter.com/LMNppbkiyR

— Anshu Chauhan (@chauhandwarrior) August 13, 2023

Dude can become one of the greatest Sussex players before he retires. Sussex legend Chetty Pujara

— Jaammii.. (@Jaammiing) August 13, 2023

finished players need to stay kms away from the Indian Team. You're already regretting Ajju's inclusion. Pujji can play county cricket whole year, there's no need for him in Tests now.

— Naman (@wicketwizard) August 13, 2023

Reality : South Africa Tour will come and everyone will Remember him!

— Aalok Patel (@AalokPatel05) August 13, 2023

Our cricketers need to leave gracefully like other country's do. Pujaras game is not relevant in international cricket any more.

— Sandy (@SB_071162) August 13, 2023

Yes, you will play for another 10 years. Lage raho Puji bhai.

— Indrajit.Ghose (@IndrajitGhose6) August 13, 2023

Inko t20 khilao

— रूपेश कुमार पंडा (@Rupeshkrpanda1) August 13, 2023

He need to work really hard to get him back...and also will need to adjust to batting line-up..may be batting as opener or other position..

— notorious_maal (@rawekar_tushar) August 13, 2023