Cheteshwar Pujara Aims for Test Comeback with Ranji Trophy Participation
Cheteshwar Pujara, a veteran player for Team India, is setting his sights on a Test cricket comeback by making himself available for the upcoming Ranji Trophy season. A senior official from the Saurashtra Cricket Association has confirmed his readiness to participate, highlighting the value of his experience for the team. Pujara, who has played 103 Tests, has been out of the national team since the World Test Championship final in June 2023. His recent domestic performance shows promise, making his return a topic of interest for cricket fans.
Aug 21, 2025, 16:50 IST
Pujara's Determination for a Test Return
Cheteshwar Pujara, a senior player for Team India, is currently not part of the national squad, but he is eager to make a return to Test cricket. To facilitate this, he has made himself available for the upcoming Ranji Trophy season.
A senior official from the Saurashtra Cricket Association confirmed Pujara's availability. The official mentioned to a sports news outlet that Pujara has expressed his readiness to participate in the upcoming Ranji season. This is certainly positive news for us, as his experience will be invaluable to the team.
Pujara, who has played 103 Test matches for India, has turned 27. Although he is not currently in the Test team, he aspires to make a comeback. At present, he is only participating in domestic cricket, specifically in multi-day matches. Last season, he scored 402 runs in seven matches at an average of 40.2, which included one century and one half-century, although Saurashtra was eliminated in the quarter-finals by Gujarat.
Since the World Test Championship final at The Oval in June 2023, Pujara has been absent from the Indian Test team, marking that match as his last appearance for the national side.