Gautam Gambhir vs Ajit Agarkar! Selectors denied India coach's 'Cheteshwar Pujara' demand for BGT

The situation for Team India is not looking good in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25. The team is trailing 1-2 to the hosts Australia and the players are not looking confident about their performances as well.

In such a situation, a report has emerged that Gautam Gambhir had made a request to include the veteran batter Cheteshwar Pujara in India's squad for the ongoing Test series. But Gambhir's request was declined by Ajit Agarkar and his selection committee.

Pujara has loads of experience of playing in Australian conditions and has also played their bowling quartet of Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Pat Cummins, and Nathan Lyon several times in his career. His experience could have turned out to be fruitful for a team that is struggling in the batting department.

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Gautam Gambhir's request to include Cheteshwar Pujara declined by selectors

According to The Indian Express, Gautam Gambhir wanted Cheteshwar Pujara in India's squad for this series. But the selectors turned down his request and chose to pick the squad on the basis of current form.

Pujara was the highest run-scorer of the 2018-19 Test series between Australia and India with 521 runs in seven innings at an average of 74.42. He scored 3 hundreds and 1 fifty as India registered a historic Test series win in Australia.

The 36-year-old veteran played a key role in India's next series in Australia as well. He scored 271 runs in eight innings at an average of 33.87. He scored these runs off 928 balls and played key roles in the drawn match in Sydney and the memorable win at Gabba.

It is believed that Gautam Gambhir even mentioned Cheteshwar Pujara despite India's win in the first Test at Perth. Overall, Pujara has scored 993 runs in 11 Tests played in Australia at an impressive average of 47.28.

Cheteshwar Pujara's recent form

Recently, Cheteshwar Pujara played in the first half of the Ranji Trophy for Saurashtra and scored his 25th hundred in the Ranji Trophy against Chhattisgarh. The 36-year-old converted it into a double-hundred. He went on to play a marathon innings of 234 runs off 383 balls which included 25 fours and 1 six.

It was a typical Pujara kind of an innings but the match ended in a draw. However, he didn't have a great season overall despite this knock. Pujara scored 269 runs in six innings at an average of 44.83 with just one 100-plus score.

The chaotic situation in the Indian dressing room

The report also mentions that Gautam Gambhir was livid with India's recent performances and reminded the players of the team's plan. He gave a harsh assessment of the players' performances and claimed that they were doing their own things instead of going according to the plans.

The former India opener also spoke about the batters' inability to score runs ever since the start of India's home Test season in September. All these things have left the Indian dressing room in ultimate chaos ahead of the final Test in Sydney, which will be played from January 3.