Veteran Indian batsman Cheteshwar Pujara is making a case for himself to be included in the Test squad for the upcoming series against England. Following India's Champions Trophy victory, the team is gearing up for a red-ball series, with a five-Test tour of England set for June, kicking off a new World Test Championship cycle.

In a chat with RevSportz, Pujara made it clear to the selection committee led by Ajit Agarkar that he’s eager to make a comeback for the England tour.

"Absolutely! As a cricketer, representing India is always the goal. I'm doing everything I can to make that happen. If the team needs me, I'm ready to step in. I've been active in domestic and county cricket for the past couple of years, scoring a lot. So if the chance comes, I’ll be ready to seize it," he shared.

Pujara last donned the Indian jersey in 2023 during the WTC final against Australia at The Oval. However, the new selection committee, under Agarkar, opted to focus on younger talent, leaving Pujara out of the mix.

His name was mentioned when discussing potential players for the Australia tour, but the selectors stuck to their decision. The 37-year-old expressed confidence that if he had been selected for the Border-Gavaskar Test series, India would have achieved a hat-trick of series wins in Australia. "I was really confident. If I had been there, we would have made it a hat trick. I stand by that," he said.

Pujara evaluates how India might perform in England

India has visited England 19 times since their first trip in 1932, securing only three series wins, the last one being in 2007. They almost grabbed a fourth victory during the 2021 tour when they led the series 2-1 after four matches. Unfortunately, the final match had to be postponed due to a Covid outbreak within the Indian team. England managed to equalize the series in the fifth Test in 2022.

Pujara is feeling hopeful that this time around, India can finally end their winless run, especially since they’re up against a "weaker" England squad. "This Indian team definitely has a very good chance. If you check out the England bowling lineup, they seem a bit less intimidating now that Anderson has retired, and Stuart Broad isn’t in the playing XI anymore."

Read Also: BFI State Federation Blocks Anurag Thakur’s Nomination in Himachal

Get the latest Bollywood entertainment news, trending celebrity news, latest celebrity news, new movie reviews, latest entertainment news, latest Bollywood news, and Bollywood celebrity fashion & style updates!

HOW DID YOU LIKE THIS ARTICLE? CHOOSE YOUR EMOTICON!