Pujara’s County Championship suspension: Emotional Instagram post tells the tale

Sussex County Cricket Club's captain and renowned India batter, Cheteshwar Pujara, finds himself in a state of disappointment as he misses out on their crucial clash against Derbyshire, commencing on Tuesday, September 19. Pujara's absence from the lineup is a result of a one-match suspension in the County Championship, stemming from his repeated breaches of player discipline.

This disciplinary setback comes on the heels of a turbulent period for Sussex, as batter Tom Haines, all-rounder Jack Carson, and seamer Ari Karvelas were also unavailable for selection due to their involvement in an incident during their previous encounter against Leicestershire, a match which Sussex managed to clinch by a mere 15 runs. Additionally, the team incurred a significant penalty of 12 points for repeated violations of player discipline.

Pujara, being the leader of the team, bore the brunt of his fellow players' behaviour. Nevertheless, Pujara remains appreciative of the cherished memories he has created with Sussex and commended the team's resilience displayed across all facets of the game. The senior batsman hinted at his absence from the final game of the season against Gloucestershire, taking to Instagram to share a snapshot from one of Sussex's matches, expressing his sentiments,

“Gutted to leave this way but looking back at the county season with cherished moments and unforgettable memories. Proud of the grit and character shown by this group. Wishing Sussex all the best for the remaining two games,” he captioned.

Here's Cheteshwar Pujara's Instagram post: 

A memorable outing for Pujara with Sussex

The Saurashtra batter has consistently delivered stellar performances for Sussex in the ongoing County Championship season. He has tallied an impressive 649 runs in eight matches at an average of 54.08, featuring three centuries and two half-centuries. This season's statistics, while impressive, still fall short of his remarkable performance in the previous season, where the veteran India cricketer had amassed a staggering 1094 runs in eight games, which included five centuries.