Snubbed By IPL Teams, Cheteshwar Pujara Signs Up For Gloucestershire

India’s Test batting mainstay Cheteshwar Pujara has signed a short-term deal with English county outfit Gloucestershire for the upcoming season. The right-handed batsman, who was snubbed by the IPL franchises once again, will ply his trade for Gloucestershire for six matches.

Along with Hanuma Vihari, Cheteshwar Pujara is the only other centrally-contracted Test players who will not feature in the IPL this year. Gloucestershire, who have been promoted to Division one after last season and are set to play top-division county cricket for the first time in fifteen seasons. The county outfit will be hoping that the India star delivers for them in the crucial season.

Cheteshwar Pujara will feature in the opening game of the season against Yorkshire on April 12 and return to India before the T20 Blast kicks off in the UK. He will be replaced by Afghanistan’s leg-spinner Qais Ahmed as the county’s overseas player for the last six games.

“I am really excited to represent Gloucestershire this season,” said Cheteshwar Pujara after sealing the deal with the club. “The club has a rich cricketing history and this is a great opportunity to be a part of it and contribute to its success. I cannot wait to get to Bristol, meet my teammates and score some runs.”

The right-handed batsman, meanwhile, is no strange to playing county cricket in England. Gloucestershire will be the fourth English county that he will be representing. His first county stint came for Derbyshire in 2014 before he represented Yorkshire in 2015 and 2018. In between that, he played for Nottinghamshire in 2017.

But while he is well experienced at playing in England, he is yet to make a big mark in county cricket. In 36 county innings so far, he averages just above 30 and will be looking to make the opportunity count this year. As of now, he is gearing up for the upcoming two-match Test series against New Zealand.

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