Veteran Indian batter Cheteshwar Pujara showcased his enduring brilliance once again in the ongoing Ranji Trophy 2023-24 as he scored yet another century in Saurashtra's final Elite Group A match against Manipur at Sanosara Cricket Ground A in Rajkot on Saturday, February 17.
Pujara registered his third century of the ongoing Ranji Trophy season and 63rd century in his first-class cricket career. The 35-year-old scored a century in just 102 balls against Manipur in Rajkot.
The veteran Saurashtra batter walked out to bat when his team was 293/4 after Arpit Vasavada's wicket and a formed a brilliant 231-run partnership with Prerak Mankad to take Saurashtra past 500-run mark in the first innings.
Cheteshwar Pujara played a knock of 108 off 105 balls, consisted of 12 fours and a six and batting at an average of 102.86 before he was dismissed by Ronald Longjam at 524/5.
With his consistent performances in the ongoing Ranji Trophy season, Cheteshwar Pujara is trying harder to break BCCI selectors' door in order to make his return to national side. Pujara was not picked in India squad for three Test series against West Indies, South Africa and England.
Pujara's last appearance in whites was in the World Test Championship Final against Australia in July 2023. Thereafter, the selectors dropped him from the team due to inconsistency in his performances.
Cheteshwar Pujara is currently the leading run-getter for Saurashtra in Ranji Trophy 2023-24, amassing 781 runs, including three centuries and two fifties, at an average of 78.1 in 11 innings so far.
Will Pujara make his comeback to national side?
Despite consistently performing well in domestic cricket, the question rise whether Cheteshwar Pujara will be able to make to return to Indian Test team.
Whenever he gets dropped from the India Test squad, the veteran Indian batter goes back to domestic cricket and grind harder for his comeback to national team. However, it remains to be seen whether Pujara get another opportunity as Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill are proving their mettle with his stellar performances.
Jaiswal became the latest to shine on Test arena as he has scored three centuries in 13 innings. In the Vizag Test, the youngster recorded his maiden double century against England, making him the second youngest Indian player to achieve this feat on home soil.
With Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill cementing their place in the team, Cheteshwar Pujara may have wait for the opportunity to break into Indian Test squad again, depending on his age and selectors' deliberations.
However, the seasoned campaigner Pujara continues to excel in domestic cricket, proving his mettle time and again.
