Cheteshwar Pujara backs Pankaj Singh to make a comeback in the national team

Indian middle-order batsman Cheteshwar Pujara has backed Rajasthan’s captain Pankaj Singh to make a comeback in the national team. One of the mainstays in the Indian middle order Pujara urged the 31-year-old pacer to keep bowling consistently in the domestic circuit and keep improving on his fitness if he entertains thoughts of returning to the national side.

“He (Pankaj) is a very good bowler. Personally, I feel he is one of the most talented fast bowlers we (India) have. He had an opportunity to represent the Indian team when we toured England (in 2014). Things didn’t go well but he is someone who always likes to improve,” Pujara was quoted as saying by the Sportskeeda.

“He always gives his best and I definitely feel if he keeps performing at this level, he will definitely get an opportunity to play for the Indian team again. It’s just about maintaining his fitness (and) maintaining his bowling. He has to keep improving. Parthiv is one example of having made a comeback after doing well in the domestic circuit.”

Pankaj has been a consistent performer in the domestic circuit for a long time and continued his rich vein of form even in the 2016/17 edition of the Ranji Trophy. He finished the tournament with 41 scalps to his name in a mere 8 matches at an impressive average of 22.07.

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Pankaj who made his Test debut against England in Southampton during the 2014 series had an eventful outing in his opening Test. With the help of some shoddy fielding and lack of Decision Review System (DRS), he was denied his maiden Test wicket in his first Test. He finally got his first Test wicket in the next Test when Joe Root glanced a leg-side delivery straight to MS Dhoni behind the stumps. He added another in a matter of minutes but his performances were not impressive enough to keep him in contention for the next series and thereafter.

Pujara who is the captain of Rest of India in the ongoing Irani Trophy match against Gujarat will serve as a motivation for Pankaj and given a number of injuries the Indian pacers have gone through in the last couple of months an international comeback from Pankaj Singh cannot be ruled out.