Cheteshwar Pujara, who has been playing in the County Championship Division Two for Sussex in England for the last two months, arrived in style at Team India’s latest practice session in the build-up to the World Test Championship (WTC) Final. As Ravindra Jadeja, his fellow teammate in both state and national colours saw the 35-year-old, he was taken aback for a second, but moments later, he humorously said to him, “Sahi hai Pujji Bhai. Private car main.”
The Rajkot-born cricketer has captained Sussex to no defeats in the first six rounds of matches in the County Championship. During that time, he scored 545 runs for his side in 8 innings at an average of 68.12 with three centuries, including the highest innings of 151.
One of the media reporters in England, who is covering the practice sessions of the Indian cricket team in Sussex, posted a picture of Pujara and Jadeja’s interaction on his Twitter account. He captioned it, “When Jadeja telling Pujara sahi hai Pujji bhai. Private car main. Remember Pujara is playing for Sussex where India is practicing today.”
Notably, for Team India, Cheteshwar Pujara will be a key player at the top of the order, when they take the field against Australia in the WTC Final at The Oval in London from June 7 onwards. He has been a rock for the national side at the number three slot for many years, that’s why, his contribution with the bat might go a long way in helping the Indians achieve their first ICC triumph in over a decade.
In his illustrious Test career, the 35-year-old has put together 2,033 runs in 43 innings across 24 Tests versus the Aussies at an average of 50.82, including five centuries. He has top score of 204 against them, which came at the JSCA International Stadium Complex in Ranchi, during the Border Gavaskar Trophy 2017.