"Don't Understand The Reason": India Great Fumes Over Cheteshwar Pujara's Absence From England Tests

15.02.2024 - 08:25 sports.ndtv.com

Former India player Karsan Ghavri on Wednesday slammed the decision to ignore veteran Cheteshwar Pujara for the Test series against England especially with the depleted batting line-up in the absence of Virat Kohli and KL Rahul.

A veteran of 103 Tests, the 36-year-old Pujara has been sidelined since the series in the West Indies, with the Indian selectors preferring to look ahead. "I don't understand the reason why Cheteshwar Pujara was dropped.

He should have been in the Indian team right from the first Test," Ghavri told PTI on the eve of the third Test here, the home ground of Pujara. "At first, Virat Kohli was not playing the first two Tests and now it has been announced that he would not be playing the remaining three Tests.

Cheteshwar was not only the greatest replacement but the greatest player they should have included," added the 72-year-old. With Kohli pulling out of the series citing "personal reasons" and Rahul injured, the Indian batting lineup has looked thin in the ongoing five-match series.

cricket India Cricket Team England Cricket Team 2024 Virat Kohli Rohit Sharma Cheteshwar Pujara India

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