Cheteshwar Pujara Awaits Gautam Gambhir’s Call for England Tour: ‘I Am Ready’
In a dramatic turn of events for Indian cricket, the Test team stands at the crossroads of change. With stalwarts Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Ravichandran Ashwin retiring from the longest format, and pace spearhead Mohammed Shami sidelined due to fitness concerns, the upcoming five-match Test series in England promises to be a stern test for a young Indian side. As the Shubman Gill-led squad prepares for this monumental challenge, all eyes are on whether veterans like Cheteshwar Pujara could make a sensational return to bolster the batting lineup.
India’s batting unit, once a fortress with the likes of Kohli and Sharma, now looks vulnerable. The absence of these giants has sparked debates among fans and experts alike—could the selectors turn to seasoned campaigners like Pujara or Ajinkya Rahane to steady the ship in hostile English conditions? Pujara, with 103 Test caps and a reputation for grinding out tough runs, recently broke his silence on the possibility of a comeback during an interview with Lallantop.
When asked if head coach Gautam Gambhir had reached out regarding the England tour, scheduled to begin on June 20 in Leeds, Pujara candidly admitted, ‘No, not yet.’ However, the 36-year-old’s hunger to don the Indian jersey once more was unmistakable. ‘I am ready. I don’t know if they will consider me, but if I get a chance, it will be an honor to represent the country again. As a cricketer, you always feel that as long as you are fit and contributing, especially with strong performances in domestic cricket, you’re in the mix. I’m preparing well, and if the opportunity arises, I’ll be more than happy to be part of the team,’ Pujara asserted with quiet determination.
Meanwhile, the Indian team is undergoing a massive transition, with Shubman Gill, at just 25, stepping into the captaincy role—making him the fifth youngest Test captain in India’s history after legends like Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi (21), Sachin Tendulkar (23), Kapil Dev (24), and Ravi Shastri (25). Gill will be supported by the dynamic Rishabh Pant as vice-captain, whose explosive batting and sharp wicketkeeping skills have made him a cornerstone of the Test side over the past few years. Chief selector Ajit Agarkar expressed optimism about Gill’s leadership, stating, ‘We’ve been looking at Shubman for leadership over the last year or so. It’s a high-pressure job, but he’s a terrific player. We wish him all the best.’ On Pant’s appointment, Agarkar added, ‘Pant is one of our best batters in Test cricket over the last four-five years. A wicketkeeper can read the game well, and that’s why he’s Shubman’s deputy.’
The 18-member squad announced for the series includes no major surprises but does feature maiden Test call-ups for promising talents like left-handed batter B Sai Sudharsan, who has impressed in domestic circuits with his technique, and left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh, whose swing bowling could be a handful on English pitches. This series, often dubbed the ‘Pataudi Trophy’, holds historical significance, with India looking to build on their 2-2 draw during the last tour in 2021-22, where Pujara himself played a pivotal role in gritty draws at Lord’s and The Oval.
As the countdown to the first Test begins, the question remains—will Gautam Gambhir and the selectors take a bold call to bring back a battle-hardened warrior like Pujara to guide this inexperienced side through swinging English conditions? With a career spanning over a decade and 7,195 Test runs at an average of 43.60, including 19 centuries, Pujara’s experience could be the anchor India desperately needs. For now, the ‘Wall of Indian Cricket’ waits patiently, ready to answer the call of duty.