Sunil Gavaskar slams Indian selectors for dropping Cheteshwar Pujara for West Indies Tour

Cheteshwar Pujara has batted with an average of just around 28 since January 2020.

The Selectors have dropped Cheteshwar Pujara from the upcoming two-match test series against West Indies in the Caribbean islands. The BCCI decided to opt for a new number three batter in the Indian middle order rather than go with the experienced Cheteshwar Pujara. Pujara failed to score big in the World Test Championship Final.

Former Indian opener Sunil Gavaskar has now slammed the selectors' decision to drop India’s premier number three batter from the tour. Gavaskar feels that Pujara has been made a scapegoat after India’s second consecutive World Test Championship Final loss in the last two years. Pujara scored only 41 runs (14 in the first and 27 in the second) from the two innings he played against Australia in the big WTC Final. 

Gavaskar raises questions

Former Indian captain Sunil Gavaskar while talking about Cheteshwar Pujara has slammed the selectors and raised questions over their decision. Gavaskar said, “Why is he dropped? Why is he being made the scapegoat for our batting failures? Because he doesn’t have millions of followers on whatever platforms, who would make a noise in case he gets dropped?” He further added, “You drop him, something that is beyond understanding. What is the criteria for dropping him and keeping the others who failed? I do not know because nowadays, there are no media interactions with the selection committee chairman”.  Pujara also failed to score big in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy earlier this year. 

Cheteshwar Pujara averaged just 27 since January 2020 and has only one century in the last 55 innings that he played. Pujara could only score one fifty in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in 2023 against Australia. Many fans have also raised questions about the team selections in recent times. Former Cricketers have also criticised the committee for having no plans for the future. Pujara is currently in England taking part in county cricket for Sussex, where he has scored heavily in the first half.