Cheteshwar Pujara Makes HUGE Statement Ahead Of India-England Test Series News24 –

The Indian team has not made any appearances with Cheteshwar Pujara ever since the World Test Championship (WTC) final versus Australia at The Oval during June 2023. The Indian team performed well at first in WTC cycle III before dropping its performance in the last two series. During the third WTC cycle India first lost 0-3 against New Zealand at home and continued to suffer a 1-3 defeat against Australia in the Border-Gavaskar series leading to their nonqualification for the WTC final. IPL activities involving Indian players are ending before they begin their tour of England. Start of the tour will commence during the following month. In a recent interview, Pujara declared his availability for team selection if Team India requires his services.

“If the team needs me, I am prepared”: Cheteshwar Pujara on India’s forthcoming England tour

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Before the five-match Test series against England, Pujara told Boria Majumdar on Backstage with Boria, “If the team needs me and I get a chance, I am ready from my side. I have been working on my physical fitness and performing well in domestic and national tournaments. Team India has been quite competitive, but it hasn’t won a series in England for almost 20 years, so if I get the opportunity, I would like to give my best and seize the chance if the team needs me. When winning in England becomes a major goal, it’s the right opportunity to contribute.”

After the Indian Premier League 2025, the Indian team will tour England. The two teams will play a five-match Test series starting on June 20. This series will also mark the beginning of a new World Test Championship cycle for India. Speaking about the series, Pujara added, “When someone has succeeded at the highest level and played over 100 Test matches, and is still not part of the team, you continue the hard work that led to that success. Not getting opportunities is disappointing, but my love for the game keeps me prepared and motivated. Because of that love, I stay close to the game and my routine without expecting too much, and I try to make the most of any opportunity I get, whether domestic or county cricket.”

Pujara further said, “When you fail, you fail as a team/unit, not because of a single player. So, missing out on being part of the team is definitely disappointing for me, just as it would be for anyone else, but I try to take it positively. I focus on things that are within my control. I use my good past performances for India (whether in Australia, England, or India) as inspiration. I always try to play to help the team win—whether it’s Saurashtra or Sussex, my goal remains to contribute to the team, and that same motivation will continue as I look to return to the Indian team.”

During the 2024–25 Ranji Trophy season, Pujara represented Saurashtra, where he accumulated 402 runs through seven matches and 10 innings while averaging 40.2,0, including one hundred and a fifty, his top-score amounted to 234. Since his final appearance for Indi,a he has provided great results in domestic matches and county cricket with Sussex. Pujara’s batting performance in English cricket has included 870 runs from 16 matches at a run average of 29.00 through one century and five half-centuries, leading to his best individual score of 132*.