Cheteshwar Pujara Slams BCCI Selectors for Australia Tour Snub; Gives Clear Threat For England Tour

For the forthcoming high-stakes Test series against England, Cheteshwar Pujara has made it clear that he is prepared to return to the Indian national squad.

The eagerly anticipated five-match Test series in England, which will also signal the beginning of the new WTC 2027 cycle, and will be India's next task following their victory in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.

Cheteshwar Pujara has been putting in a lot of effort to remain in the running since his last appearance for India in the 2023 WTC final against Australia. The right-handed hitter has continued to score runs in domestic and county cricket despite being benched as selectors shifted their focus to younger players, demonstrating that he still has a lot to offer in the game's longest format.

Cheteshwar Pujara slams selection panel for Australia tour snub; demands spot in Indian team for England tour

Pujara said he is ready, seasoned, and excited to don the Indian jersey once more on the forthcoming England tour, sending a strong message to Ajit Agarkar and company who will sit to choose the squad for the England series.

If the national selectors take his return into consideration, India would greatly benefit from his extensive experience in English circumstances.

“Yes, of course. As a cricketer, you always want to play for the Indian team. And I am doing whatever I can to achieve that success. If the team needs me, I'm definitely ready. I've been playing domestic cricket. I've been playing county cricket for the last couple of years. I've been scoring heavily in the domestic circuit. So, if given an opportunity, yes, I'll be more than ready to grab it with both hands,” Pujara told RevSportz.

Pujara claims a different result if

The 37-year-old has also openly asserted that if he had been chosen for the Australia tour, India would have won the Border-Gavaskar Trophy three times. Notably, earlier this year, for the first time in ten years, India lost the Test series to Australia 3-1.

“Yes, I was very confident. If I were there, then we wanted to make a hat trick. So, I wouldn't deny that,” Pujara added.

India will beat England in the five-Test series: Cheteshwar Pujara

However, the seasoned batter is confident that India will beat the "weaker" England team to return to winning ways in the format.

He signed off by saying, “This Indian team definitely has a very good chance. Even if you look at the England bowling lineup, they are slightly weaker after Anderson has retired, and Stuart Broad is not there anymore in the playing XI.”

Indian players are now preparing for the forthcoming IPL 2025, which is scheduled to begin on March 22 with the tournament opening against RCB and the reigning champions KKR in Kolkata.

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