‘Ye practically possible nahi hai’ – Fans react as Yashasvi Jaiswal can reportedly replace Cheteshwar Pujara in Test squad

Beyond Virat Kohli, who has played in over 100 Test matches, Cheteshwar Pujara is the only other Indian cricketer currently in the team to have achieved the feat. However, Pujara’s place in the Test team once more appears in doubt following his two dismissals against Australia in the World Test Championship (WTC) Final at the Oval in London last week.

After a break of more than a month, the Indian cricket team will play in a two-Test series against the West Indies as part of the WTC 2023–25 cycle. According to a Cricbuzz source, the selectors are considering making a few adjustments for the West Indies Test matches since certain players who excelled during the 2023 Indian Premier League (IPL) season may receive bonuses.

Every Test is important, and its result contributes to the World Test Championship points table: Source 

Yashashvi Jaiswal was not a part of the initial 15-man team, but he had travelled to England for the WTC 2023 final as one of the three standby players in the squad. The Mumbai-born player, who can bat at No. 3 against the West Indies and replace Cheteshwar Pujara in the Test team, has also done so in domestic cricket, where he has a first-class batting average of 80.21.

Since 2020, Pujara has amassed just one century in 52 innings (28 Tests) with a poor average of 29.69. While he has scored 11 half-centuries, his average falls to 26.31 when his runs of 90 and 102 not out came during the Chittagong Test in December 2022 are taken away. However, considering his workload for the next international season, which includes the ODI World Cup 2023 in India later this year and the Asia Cup 2023, the selectors may decide to rest Mohammad Shami. Mohammed Siraj as well as Shami might benefit from a break.

India tour of West Indies 2023 Schedule:

Test Matches:

12-16 July: 1st Test Match, Windsor Park, Dominica (from 730pm IST onwards)

20-24 July: 2nd Test Match, Queen’s Park Oval, Trinidad (from 730pm IST onwards)

ODI Series:

27 July: 1st ODI, Kensington Oval, Barbados (from 7pm IST onwards)

29 July: 2nd ODI, Kensington Oval, Barbados (from 7pm IST onwards)

1 August: 3rd ODI, Brian Lara Cricket Academy, Trinidad (from 7pm IST onwards)

T20 Internationals:

3 August: 1st T20I, Brian Lara Cricket Academy, Trinidad (from 8pm IST onwards)

6 August: 2nd T20I, National Stadium, Guyana (from 8pm IST onwards)

8 August: 3rd T20I, National Stadium Guyana (from 8pm IST onwards)

12 August: 4th T20I, Broward County Stadium, Lauderhill, Florida (from 8pm IST onwards)

13 August: 5th T20I, Broward County Stadium, Lauderhill, Florida (from 8pm IST onwards)

Here’s how fans reacted:

A Lefty in Toporder for Indian test Team after ages.
Interesting!

— Manisaketh (@Manisaketh834) June 14, 2023

Actually every one of rohit, Kohli, pujara and rahane should be replaced. Their numbers are so bad. But yeah let's start with pujara.
I am pretty sure if India loses the WC and Virat and Rohit fails in that WC, we will never see them in India colors ever.

— kuldeep singh (@ksnaruka99) June 14, 2023

https://twitter.com/stewiegrifendra/status/1669047595526930438

Cheteshwar Pujara is legend pic.twitter.com/OQzsmruz2P

— djay (@djaywalebabu) June 14, 2023

https://twitter.com/ExplainLiuLiu/status/1669167587840913408

That’s great
Can @IamSanjuSamson replace @klrahul

— YOGESH BHAVSAR, MBA (@YTA_School) June 14, 2023

What? Seriously? Need some serious changes. Pujara is scoring runs. Don’t judge him through #WTC2023Final

— Sagar Khandelwal (@Khandelw13Sagar) June 14, 2023

Pujara is fine at that spot. He must replace Kohli.

— Anoop Mishra (@Anupmis25) June 14, 2023