Cheteshwar Pujara was recently dropped from the Indian Test squad for the tour of the West Indies next month which includes a couple of Tests that will kick-start India’s WTC 2023/25 cycle.
Following the loss in the WTC 2023 Final against Australia, where he scored 14 and 27, and considering his ordinary form over the past few years, Pujara’s axing doesn’t come as a surprise. This could also well mean that Cheteshwar’s Test career is virtually over as there is little chance of him making a comeback at the age of 35 or beyond as India will look to give a new batsman long rope at number 3.
Nonetheless, even if he doesn’t get to play another Test, Pujara will go down as one of India’s greatest Test batters, who batted in a grittier fashion than any of his peers. Currently, his average stands 43, which is commendable given the tough role at number 3 and the nature of mostly tough batting pitches in the world since 2018, with 19 centuries and 35 fifties to his name.
He had a long 14-year Test career, something which others who made debut alongside him couldn’t achieve, when they debuted in 2010, the same year as Pujara made his Test debut.
Here are 3 players who made their Test debut in In Same Year As Cheteshwar Pujara but didn’t have a long career:
Abhimanyu Mithun
Karnataka’s right-arm seamer Abhimanyu Mithun made his Test debut for India in 2010 against Sri Lanka in Galle. Despite his impressive domestic feats for Karnataka, Mithun couldn’t crack it at the highest level. He could get only 4 Test matches under his belt in a year’s time, picking up 9 wickets at a poor average of 50 and was dropped from the side, never to return again.
Suresh Raina
Suresh Raina made his ODI debut in 2005 and became a key part of the ODI side. He got to make his Test debut in 2010, against Sri Lanka, and even a century on debut. After that, though, the left-hander failed to make a mark in the longest format.
He did get to play 18 Test matches, in which he averaged a mediocre 26, before being cast aside from the Test team thereafter only featured in white-ball cricket for India.
Subramaniam Badrinath
Subramaniam Badrinath had one of the most stellar domestic careers for Tamil Nadu as a batsman as he ended up with over 10,000 first-class runs at an average of 54. He made his FC debut in 2005 and after grinding hard in domestic cricket, Subramaniam Badrinath got his Test cap in 2010. However, the right-hander couldn’t show his class at the highest level and in 2 Tests, he scored 63 runs and was dropped.
