BCCI Selectors Rejected Gautam Gambhir's Request for Including Cheteshwar Pujara Against Australia

According to reports, Indian Men's Team Head Coach Gautam Gambhir wanted Cheteshwar Pujara for the ongoing Border Gavaskar Trophy. Still, the BCCI Selectors turned down his request during the team selection meeting before the tour.

This development became significant as India’s batting performance in Australia was not disappointing this year. Senior players like Rohit Sharma, Rishabh Pant, and Virat Kohli didn't perform in this test series. Though Kohli scored a century in the second innings of the first match, his other yearly dismissals during the whole series brought back memories of his earlier struggles with outside off-stump balls. 

Pujara’s suggestion for inclusion in the squad was significant. He possesses strong defensive skills and a natural ability to play long innings. Instead of playing shots, he tries to make the bowler tired and then tries to score runs later. His batting style gave the team much-needed strength and acted as the glue between the top and middle orders.

Pujara and Border Gavaskar Trophy

During the 2018-19 Border Gavaskar Trophy in Australia, he scored 521 runs in seven innings of the four test matches. Pujara scored three centuries and one-half centuries during the series, with an average of 74.42 and the highest score of 193, which he scored during the third test match at Sydney Cricket Ground. He played a marathon innings in 373 balls, which assured the draw. He also scored 123 runs in the first match and 106 runs in the Boxing Day test at MCG.

In the last Border Gavaskar Trophy (2020/21) in Australia, he scored 271 runs, and he is still remembered for his 56 off 211 balls innings in Brisbane, which played a crucial role in the historic chase at The Gabba.

Pujara’s Test Carrer

In his 103-match test career, he scored 7195 runs in 174 innings at an average of 44. During his whole test career, he scored 19 centuries and 34 half-centuries, with the highest score of 206*against England.

Border Gavaskar Trophy( 2024/25)

India is trailing by 2-1 in the first four matches in the ongoing series, as the Brisbane test was a draw. The primary reason behind India’s disappointing performance is the senior batters' inability to score runs, especially in the middle-order batters. Pujara could have been the perfect batter to bat and move the innings in this situation. The team tried Shubhman Gill and Rohit Sharma at the position, but neither batter performed well.

After the team's disappointing batting performance, Gambhir addressed the conflict between Intent and Team interests. He told the players that instead of executing the 'Plans discussed', they were doing their own thing...!!!!

Gambhir also discussed how the batters had been underperforming for a while now. 


His impact can be understood by the fact that before the start of the series, Australian Pacer Josh Hazelwood said he was glad Pujara was not coming for the ongoing series.

“I am happy that Cheteshwar Pujara is not here. He is someone who bats time and spends a lot of time at the crease and makes you earn his wicket every time. Has done well in Australia on previous tours. I mean there are always first-class young players coming into the team”