As reported by Cricbuzz, Indian cricket enters a new chapter with the announcement of the squad for the upcoming Test series against West Indies. Veteran Cheteshwar Pujara has been dropped, making room for fresh faces such as Ruturaj Gaikwad, Yashasvi Jaiswal, and Mukesh Kumar.
The axing of Pujara is one of the major talking points. With an average of 29.69 since 2020, the 35-year-old has been struggling for form. Although he has registered 11 half-centuries, his average falls to 26.31 if we exclude his performance in the Chittagong Test in December 2022. This led to a debate among selectors about his place in the team.
On the other hand, Virat Kohli has managed to retain his spot in the squad. Despite average returns in the last World Test Championship (WTC) cycle, the former captain’s experience and potential make him a valuable asset to the team. The management will hope for a turnaround in his form in this Caribbean outing.
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Cheteshwar Pujara dropped as India announce their test squad for the tour of West Indies
Meanwhile, Ajinkya Rahane has returned to the side as vice-captain. After a memorable performance in the WTC final against Australia at The Oval, this move doesn’t come as a surprise. However, it’s worth noting that Rahane was dropped from the squad for the home Test series against Sri Lanka last year. His selection for the WTC final was necessitated due to injuries to regular players.
The squad also welcomes uncapped players Ruturaj Gaikwad, Yashasvi Jaiswal, and Mukesh Kumar. This trio’s inclusion marks the beginning of India’s journey in the 2023-25 WTC cycle. Both Gaikwad and Jaiswal have shown immense potential in the domestic circuit and will be eager to prove themselves on the international stage. Mukesh Kumar, too, will look forward to showcasing his abilities with the ball.
In conclusion, the squad selection signifies a new era for Indian cricket. The inclusion of young players and the dropping of a seasoned campaigner like Pujara underline the team’s focus on the future. Ajinkya Rahane’s reinstatement as vice-captain and Virat Kohli’s retention also add a mix of experience to the squad. As the first assignment of the 2023-25 WTC cycle approaches, fans will eagerly anticipate the performance of this reinvigorated Indian team.
If this is it, then Thank you so much, the last of a kind 🧱💔#Legend #Pujara #BCCI #TestCricket https://t.co/ylMimzNae6
— Tweeter_001 (@001_Tweeter) June 23, 2023
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Harsh call but kind of deserved, been playing county for months and failed in wtc, same happened one off test against England(postponed match) even at that time he was playing county for months and failed in that test. https://t.co/jXBtIni7QA
— Priya_M (@Priya_Ro45) June 23, 2023
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This was on the cards..Thanks for ur services Che Pujara..Time for new no. 3 in test cricket #wivind https://t.co/9oY5tN1lut
— Krish (@KrishK74) June 23, 2023
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Csk gonna pick him next season and make him come back into the test squad 🏌 https://t.co/DF7Q8HhSlx
— ♦️ 𝕂𝕚𝕟𝕘 ⓞⓕ 𝕕𝕚𝕒𝕞𝕠𝕟𝕕𝕤 ♦️ (@forsakenfellow) June 23, 2023
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Soft target.
Obviously he should’ve been dropped but so should Rohit Sharma be stripped of captaincy & his place in the squad.
AdvertisementHis overall Test record has been mediocre & his recent outing’s abysmal. https://t.co/iPZoIIH6np
— ᔕᗩIᑎT ᗷOᒍᗩᑕK (@ThBuckStopsHere) June 23, 2023
For him making scored runs in county is more important https://t.co/YWzaC2gDFJ
— Sunil Boriwal (@iamsunil22) June 23, 2023
This is ridiculous step in my opinion.. I think he is paying for playing county and not ipl.. Rubbish step by selectors https://t.co/Ro3IYdJSOU
— Anurag Sinha (@anuragsinha1992) June 23, 2023
Damn, but when are they dropping Rohit Sharma? https://t.co/a3Td8PYMVF
— Karan Arora (@kranberry15) June 23, 2023
Downfall started in tests too 👍 https://t.co/wcOdTZfVPC
— Avinashtweets (@avinashtweetsA) June 23, 2023
That's really sad 😔 https://t.co/Y5wdCYiZ6f
— Ayush sinh (@AyushthakurIam) June 23, 2023
