Ranji Trophy 2021-22: Cheteshwar Pujara regains form with an aggressive 91 against Mumbai

Cheteshwar Pujara came up with a 91-run knock off just 83 balls in the second innings of the Ranji Trophy game for Saurashtra against Mumbai and it ended his torrid run of form in recent times. The right-hander was axed from the Indian Test squad alongside Ajinkya Rahane for the upcoming home series against Sri Lanka and this was the one of the rare ocassions that the 34-year-old was dropped from the Indian squad since his debut in 2010.

Pujara could manage just 124 runs in six innings in the tour to South Africa and there had been a lot of alarming signs already for the veteran batters to make the most of their extended run of opportunities. Pujara last scored a Test century way back in 2019 for India in the tour to Australia and hasn’t been dominating in the home conditions that he has been used to doing. Pujara was nearing his 100th Test which would have been a great achievement as he scored 6713 runs in 95 Tests at an average close to 44.

He bagged a duck in the first innings for Saurashtra earlier while Rahane has started his season with a splendid century in the first innings. However, Pujara’s innings was more aggressive for a surprise as he managed to hit 16 fours and one six in his innings at a strike rate of 109.64. He was finally dismissed LBW by Shams Mulani nine runs short of a century and the wait continues for him.

Saurashtra survive a late scare from Mumbai

Meanwhile, Pujara’s dismissal led to a flurry of wickets in quick time from the Saurashtra side as Shams Mulani was making the breakthroughs consistently. Having dominated most of the day’s play, the Saurashtra side were on the verge of losing the game until skipper Jaydev Unadat stepped in with the bat scoring a 72-ball 32. Chetan Sakariya supported him well at the other end as they stitched a 31-run partnership for the tenth wicket and managed to play out the overs for a draw in the end.