Dropped From India's Test Squad, Cheteshwar Pujara Responds With Century For Saurashtra In Ranji Trophy

Cheteshwar Pujara scored a hundred for Saurashtra against Jharkhand in Ranji Trophy.

Cheteshwar Pujara reacts after completing his 61st first-class hundred while playing for Saurashtra against Jharkhand.

Source : Screengrab From Video On X/@BCCIdomestic

Cheteshwar Pujara, for long India's reliable number 3 batter in Test match cricket, did not find a place for himself in India's Test squad for their tour of South Africa. While Shubman Gill batted at number 3, Yashasvi Jaiswal opened the batting with Rohit Sharma. With Shreyas Iyer fitting in the middle order, there was no place for Pujara in the side. However, Pujara has opted to respond with his bat like he usually does.

Playing for Saurashtra against Jharkhand, the 35-year-old scored a sensational hundred in an Elite Group A Ranji Trophy fixture being played at the Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Rajkot. His century has helped Saurashtra take massive first-innings lead against Jharkhand who were bowled out for 142 in the first innings. In response, Pujara came in to bat at number 4 and took 162 deliveries to get to his hundred, an effort which saw him score 10 boundaries.

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Following his superb hundred, there have been several reactions on social media with several fans claiming that Pujara shouldn't have been dropped.

Take a look at a few reactions here:

 

Cheteshwar Pujara has 61 Hundreds and 77 Fifties in First Class Cricket.

- What a Legend…!!!!
Deserve a comeback in Indian cricket team 💙#pujara pic.twitter.com/A8Ek05PYkb

— CRM (@virat_18_v) January 6, 2024

61st first class hundred 💯 for pujara. 🙌🙌🙌.. Started the ranji campaign with bang... #pujara #ra https://t.co/uyRDtuZWjS

— Jinkswall188 (@jinkswall188) January 6, 2024

Pujara Ko Test Team Se nahi Nikalna Chahiye tha usne bahut Achchi paariyan kheli hain Team India ke liye.
I wish ke wo England Series me Team me shamil ho. Or 11 Me Khele #Pujara #ViratKohli𓃵
Also Want ke Ab #Sarfarazkhan ko bhi ek Mauka Milna He chahiye.its High time Now https://t.co/8TZZF7tsFz

— Mazhar Khan (@V_King_18) January 6, 2024

Legend of red ball cricket @cheteshwar1 hundred in first match of ranji season 2024 #RanjiTrophy #cheteshwarpujara #pujara

— amit odedra (@AmitOdedra14) January 6, 2024

Will Pujara Get Picked In India Squad For England Tests?

Meanwhile, India's next Test assignment is their five-match Test series against England at home and it would be interesting to see if Pujara's efforts would be enough to convince the selectors to choose him over the youngsters. The first of the five-match series will begin on January 25.