Border-Gavaskar Trophy: Will veteran batter Cheteshwar Pujara make a comeback to Indian team?

India is all set to lock horns with formidable Australia in the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024/25 in the later part of the next month.

India will play the first game of the five-match Test series in Perth from November 22-26. 

Meanwhile, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is preparing to announce the squad for the high-profile series. As per sources, the squad selection is all set to be finalised after the conclusion of the second Test against New Zealand in Pune and it is expected to be revealed on October 28.

As per BCCI sources and reports published in some section of media, veteran batsman Cheteshwar Pujara may make a comeback to the Indian team for the difficult Australia tour.

Pujara is a stalwart of Indian Test cricket. However, he has been absent from the national side since the World Test Championship (WTC) final in 2023. The veteran batter’s brilliant record in Australia makes him a strong contender for selection.

Pujara had played a crucial role during the 2018-19 series in Australia by scoring an impressive total of 521 runs. With his brilliant batting, he had guided India to a historic series victory. He also came up with another good show in the 2020-21 series garnering a total of 271 runs.

Going by the recent form in the domestic cricket, Pujara further makes a strong case for him to be included in the Indian team. He has recently scored a double century in the Ranji Trophy. As Australia tour will be the real litmus test for the Indian batters, the selection team led by Ajit Agarkar may bank on the experience of Pujara.