Captain Cheteshwar Pujara Hits Century Sussex Ahead Of World Test Championship Final

07.04.2023 - 17:39 sports.ndtv.com

Senior Indian batter Cheteshwar Pujara, leading Sussex, scored a century in the first innings against Durham in the the County Championship Division Two here on Friday.

Pujara, who has been named captain for this season, brought up his ton in 134 balls by slamming back-to-back boundaries off Brydon Carse in the 55th over on the second day.

Walking to the middle when his team was at 44 for 2, Pujara scored 115 off 163 balls to cut short Durham's lead as he shared a vital 112-run partnership with Tom Clark.

Sussex had bowled out Durham for 376 in the first innings. He was eventually trapped leg before by medium pacer Ben Raine. Pujara, who is a vital member of the Indian team that will play the WTC final against Australia at The Oval in London in June, sent the ball to the fence 13 times and once over it during his innings.

cricket Test Cheteshwar Pujara Australia London India county Durham

India on Tuesday announced the squad for World Test Championship final against Australia that is slated to kick off on June 7 at the Oval, London. The highlights of the selection were the inclusion of Ajinkya Rahane into the team and the exclusion of Suryakumar Yadav from the 15-member squad. From the Indian squad that featured against Australia in the 3rd and 4th Test, Kuldeep Yadav and Ishan Kishan were also also among the notable absentees. Shreyas Iyer couldn't be a part of the team owing to an injury.

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Ajinkya Rahane's return to the Indian Test squad was the biggest news to have come out of India's World Test Championship final squad announcement on Tuesday. India will play its second WTC final against Australia at The Oval, London, from June 7 to 11. Rahane's comeback after 15 months was on predictable lines following Shreyas Iyer's back injury that ruled him out of the grand finale. Iyer recently underwent a surgery in the UK to treat stress fractures in his lower back. Former India cricketer Irfan Pathan also reckoned that Rahane's past performances in overseas conditions will bode him well.

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The Indian squad for the June 7-11 World Test Championship final against Australia was announced by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Tuesday. The return of veteran middle-order batter Ajinkya Rahane was the biggest takeaway from the squad announcement for the marquee event that will be held at The Oval, London. Some notable omissions from the squad that played in India's most recent Test series against Australia were Suryakumar Yadav, Kuldeep Yadav and Ishan Kishan. The other aspect that struck everyone was that no vice-captain was named in the squad. Generally, when Indian cricket team tours abroad a vice-captain is generally named.

India recall Ajinkya Rahane to squad for World Test Championship final against Australia

India have recalled batsman Ajinkya Rahane to their squad for June's World Test Championship final against Australia.

India recall Ajinkya Rahane for World Test Championship final against Australia

India have recalled middle-order batsman Ajinkya Rahane for the World Test Championship final against Australia at the Oval in June.