Cheteshwar Pujara Eyes India Return After Unbeaten Century For Sussex In County Championship

This was Cheteshwar Pujara’s ninth hundred for Sussex since joining the County championship side two seasons back.

London: Veteran India batter Cheteshwar Pujara has out his claim in front of the BCCI selectors to make a national team comeback in Tests as he scored an unbeaten 104 to help Sussex extend their first innings lead to 111 runs in their County Championship Division Two match against Derbyshire. India will be touring Australia for a Test series later this year and Pujara’s timely knock comes as a big boost, especially if overseas conditions are be taken into consideration.

Pujara’s unbeaten 167-ball knock was studded with 10 fours as he notched up his first hundred of the County season in his third match, having scored 86 and 44 not out against Gloucestershire and 38 in his only outing against Leicestershire.

On Saturday, Sussex reached 357 for five riding on Pujara’s ton and fifties from Tom Haines (58), Tom Alsop (64) and James Coles (72) in reply to Derbyshire’s first innings total of 246 in an away game at the County Ground in Derby.

The right-handed India batter was at the crease with Jack Carson when stumps were drawn. The series which will kick-start in November, will be India’s first five-match Test series Down Under since 1991-92. Having played last for India in 2023 in the World Test Championship (WTC) final, Pujara has been knocking the doors of the selectors with his consistent run in domestic cricket.

This was also his ninth hundred for Sussex in the County championship. His dominant knock also follows his stellar run in the Ranji Trophy that ended few months back. For the unknown, Pujara has scored 234 runs in three innings so far in this season of the county championship with just a single dismissal. The hundred also gives a testament of the 36-year-old’s grit and determination. If he can continue this form, Pujara has a great chance to make a comeback for India against Australia.