Cheteshwar Pujara to resume county duties for Yorkshire
What's the story?
India's Test number three Cheteshwar Pujara is set to return to the UK for another stint with Yorkshire for the upcoming domestic summer of 2018. “It goes without saying that Cheteshwar is a highly-driven individual and a very skilled batsman. We’re delighted to have him on board,” said Martyn Moxon, Director of Cricket at Yorkshire.
In case you didn't know..
The 30-year-old's last stint at Headingley came during the 2015 English home season when he had played four games in a year in which Yorkshire won the County Championship. During that spell, he scored 264 runs at 52.80, including a brilliant 133* in his final innings for the team at Headingley, as Yorkshire went on to win by 305 runs against Hampshire.
Previously, he has also represented Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire in county cricket, where he has 816 runs three centuries and half-centuries each.
The heart of the matter
With Pujara's appointment, their second overseas signing, Yorkshire will boast of a solid batting line-up for the approaching season, with England's Test captain Joe Root at three, New Zealand captain Kane Williamson at four and Pujara at six. “I’m really excited to be able to have the opportunity to represent Yorkshire once again,” Pujara told yorkshireccc.com. “It’s an honour for me to play for the same county as Yuvraj Singh and Sachin Tendulkar and each time I’ve played county cricket, it has improved me as a player.
What's next?
India play a solitary Test match against Afghanistan from June 14-18 in Bengaluru after which they are scheduled to tour England for 3 T20s, 3 ODIs and 5 Tests. Pujara will be returning home to India to face Afghanistan, which will be separating his stay at Yorkshire. There is also a chance that he may be available to play the final home game against Hampshire from September 18 followed by the trip to face Worcestershire from September 24 once India finish off their England tour.
Author's Take
Another opportunity for Pujara to bat in challenging conditions where the ball seams and finds lateral movement just before the national team's visit to England will serve as a massive learning for him. After only a decent England tour in 2014, Pujara can now capitalise on the chance to score big runs.