'I am not writing a obit yet' - Harsha Bhogle not ruling out Cheteshwar Pujara's comeback after Test snub

Senior Indian batter Cheteshwar Pujara has been dropped from the Indian Test squad travelling to the West Indies for a two-match series. Despite Pujara's omission, renowned Indian commentator and cricket expert Harsha Bhogle is not ruling out a comeback from the batting bulwark. 

Cheteshwar Pujara was subjected to harsh criticism after his underwhelming performance in the recently concluded World Test Championship Final at The Oval. With Pujara being axed from the Windies tour, rumours are circulating that the middle-order bulwark's time with the Indian team might be coming to an end. 

However, Harsha Bhogle is not ruling out a comeback from Pujara, citing the example of Ajinkya Rahane, who made his Test comeback in the WTC Final against Australia. Bhogle also felt that several Indian batters will be under the scanner after Pujara's axing as the Indian team looks set for an overhaul after the ODI World Cup later this year.

It has been a fabulous career, he was at the heart of the two great series wins in Australia in 2018/21, but I am not writing a Pujara obit yet. We almost wrote one for Rahane and he was India's best batter in the WTC final. And is now the vice-captain. But yes, the Pujara…

— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) June 23, 2023

India faces batting conundrum in Tests

While Cheteshwar Pujara has been dropped from the Test squad, youngsters Yashasvi Jaiswal and Ruturaj Gaikwad have received their maiden Test call-up for the Windies series. Navdeep Saini has also been recalled to the Test side with Mukesh Kumar earning his maiden call-up. 

With Pujara not in the side, it will be interesting to see how India will line-up in the two Tests against the Caribbean side as they don't have a readymade replacement to occupy the number three position in the starting eleven.