[Watch] Cheteshwar Pujara sweats it out in the nets ahead of the 2024-25 Ranji Trophy season

Indian veteran cricketer Cheteshwar Pujara shared a video of his nets session on Thursday, September 19, as he gears up for the 2024-25 Ranji Trophy season. The 36-year-old’s last appearance came in the County Championship match between Sussex and Middlesex in May 2024, where he scored 129 runs off 302 balls, including 15 boundaries. The game ended in a draw.

After being out of the Indian team for over a year, the Saurashtra player will be determined to reclaim his place with a standout season in the Ranji Trophy. Saurashtra will kick off their campaign against Tamil Nadu on October 11.

On Thursday, Pujara shared a video of himself training in the nets, captioning it:

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“Never stand still.”

He last represented India in the 2021-23 World Test Championship final against Australia at The Oval in June last year. Australia, led by centuries from Steve Smith (121) and Travis Head (163), posted 469 runs in their first innings. In reply, India were bowled out for 296, with Ajinkya Rahane top-scoring with 89 runs. Pujara managed only 14 runs off 25 balls.

Australia declared their second innings at 270/8, with Alex Carey finishing unbeaten on 66 off 105 balls, setting India a target of 444. Although a few Indian batters, including Cheteshwar Pujara (27), got starts, they failed to convert those into significant scores. India were dismissed for 234, losing the match by 209 runs.

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Cheteshwar Pujara has played over 100 Tests for India

Cheteshwar Pujara made his Test debut for India in 2010 against Australia at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. He scored just four runs in the first innings but made a strong comeback with 72 in the second, helping India secure a seven-wicket victory.

Since then, the right-handed batter has played in 103 Tests, amassing 7,195 runs, including 35 fifties and 19 centuries. Additionally, he has appeared in five ODIs, scoring 51 runs.

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