So Cheteshwar Pujara Has Scored Another Century

It hasn't been a long time since Cheteshwar Pujara's exclusion from the Test squad was celebrated, not by his opponents, but by the Indian cricket fans. Pujara hadn't scored 'big' since January 2019 when he made his last international century - 193 vs Australia at Melbourne. After that, India managed to defeat Australia in Australia again but Pujara wasn't able to reach the triple-figure mark. 

Since his last century, Pujara scored 1287 runs at an average of 27.38 and at a strike rate of 36.9. In 48 innings, India's number three hit 12 half-centuries with a highest score of 91 vs England at Leeds in 2021. 

The celebration of Pujara's exclusion was not only for mocking his exit from the test team but was also to welcome 'deserving' newcomers like Hanuma Vihari into the playing XI - the place which Pujara was apparently eating up. 

Even though the justice fans were celebrating how finished Pujara won't be able to come back into the team, the 34-year-old wasn't done yet. The day after Pujara got dropped from the Test squad, he scored 91 in 83 balls for Saurashtra in the Ranji Trophy. 

Overall in three games and five innings, Pujara made 191 runs at an average of 47.75 and a strike rate of 94.55 - making a statement that he is too good to be playing in the domestic circuit and how the international bowlers possess a different challenge altogether. 

To further polish his game, Pujara signed for Sussex for the County Championship. In seven innings, Pujara is now the third-highest run-scorer of the season with 672 runs including two double hundreds. He has now crossed the triple-figure mark for the fourth time in four games. Pujara is averaging 134.40 and at a strike rate of 59.83. 

Pujara has been always like this - a smart run-scorer and a patient one too. He knows that bad will come and until then he waits. The difference is, at the international level, he has to wait much longer than at the domestic level. 

With Pujara scoring mammoth runs in England at a healthy strike rate and even facing the likes of Shaheen Afridi in the field and Ollie Robinson in the nets, India's number three has made sure to get his confidence back. 

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The Indian team will be playing the fifth and final test against England in July to complete the series which they lead 2-1 already. Pujara is averaging 32.42 in the series. With the kind of form rhythm Pujara has got back, there is a good chance India will get back its reliable number three to bat at Edgbaston and help in winning the series.