More Nations Should Play Test Cricket for its Survival, Reckons Cheteshwar Pujara

India’s premier Test batsman, Cheteshwar Pujara believes more nations should stand up to play the longest format, for its survival and increase its popularity across the globe.

Meanwhile, Pujara recently resumed his national duties for the One-off Test series against Afghanistan . The Afghans will play their debut Test against India starting from June 14 at M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru.

However, Pujara spent the early part of 2018 season in England playing County Cricket for renowned club Yorkshire. He also represented them in the Royal London One-Day Cup.

Also, Pujara had an outstanding time in the white-ball cricket, scoring three fifties and a solitary century before returning to India.

Although he didn’t score too many runs in the red-ball cricket, he will look to make it big against Asghar Stanikzai-led Afghanistan.

India will heavily rely on him in the absence of regular skipper, Virat Kohli.

The Indian leader, meanwhile, will miss the much-awaited Test due to a neck injury which he sustained during the recently-concluded Induan Premier League (IPL).

However, he will undergo a fitness test on June 15, for the upcoming tour to the United Kingdom (UK).

More and more nations should play Test: Cheteshwar Pujara

Pujara recently talking about Afghanistan and Ireland’s inclusion reiterated that more and more nations should play Test cricket. He believes it is the need of the hour for its survival owing to the long-run.

“I think it’s really important that nations such as Ireland and Afghanistan are given the opportunity to play Test cricket. Afghanistan have already proved and showed to the world that they are a very good white-ball team. When it comes to ODIs and T20Is, Afghanistan have been playing some good cricket and I’m looking forward to seeing them given the chance to play Test cricket,” he said to Sky Sports.

“For Test cricket to survive I think more nations need to be given the opportunity play in this format. Test cricket needs to be popular around the globe and not just in a select few countries,” he concluded.

Also read: James Anderson likely to play for Surrey to prepare for India Test series