As the June 7 WTC Final at the Oval looms, Team India is finalizing their preparations for a tough encounter with Australia. Most of the team arrived in England a week ago, but Cheteshwar Pujara had a significant head start, having spent months leading Sussex in the County Championships and performing consistently.
Team India is gearing up to take on the mighty Australia in the World Test Championship (WTC) Final on June 7 at the Oval. The Indian team arrived in England a week before to start up the preparations but one player of the side who had been in England for months was Cheteshwar Pujara. Pujara had been leading Sussex in the County Championships, and delivering consistent performances for the side.
According to former player Sanjay Manjrekar, Pujara is the most reliable asset in India's batting lineup. He pointed out that Pujara's dedication is evident in how he plays County cricket regardless of the official tour schedule, especially when T20 leagues are taking over in India. Manjrekar recalled that when Pujara was sidelined last year, the team struggled significantly, proving that the 'post-Pujara' era isn't working out as hoped.
Manjrekar further emphasized that India still relies heavily on Pujara's stability and isn't ready to replace him. This follows a landmark year for the right-handed batter, who celebrated his 100th Test match during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. With the WTC title on the line, the veteran Ajinkya Rahane is also expected to return to the lineup, stepping in for the injured Shreyas Iyer.
Interestingly, Pujara spent part of this year as teammates with Steve Smith at Sussex, as the Australian star also used the County circuit to sharpen his game for the Ashes and the WTC Final.