Veteran Indian Test batter Cheteshwar Pujara is all set to resume his affair with County cricket this summer as the 33-year old has signed a deal with Sussex.
The gritty cricketer has replaced Australian middle-order batter Travis Head, who has pulled out because of national commitments. Apart from it, the county also signed on Australia's keeper-batter, Josh Philippe.
Cricketing fans worldwide have shown their excitement about this development as Pujara will be sharing the dressing with Pakistan ace-batter Mohammad Rizwan at Hove.
Pujara has previously represented Yorkshire in 2015 and 2018. He was also set to feature for Gloucestershire during the 2020 summer, but the global pandemic offset those plans.
The India batter will be available from the first game of the 2022 Championship and will stay until the end of the domestic One-day tournament, a statement from Sussex stated.
"Pujara will arrive in time for the first Championship match of the season and remain until at least the end of the RL50 competition.”
Pujara, meanwhile, expressed his excitement at the opportunity to represent a historic club like Sussex.
"I am excited and honoured to be a part of the historic Sussex County Cricket Club for the upcoming season. I do look forward to joining up with the Sussex family soon and be a part of its rich cricketing history," said the 95-Test veteran.
He added, "Over the years, I have always enjoyed my time in the UK playing county cricket, so eagerly looking forward to the new stint and hope to contribute to the club’s success."
The early-season games will be a huge test for Pujara, but it will also be a golden opportunity to regain his place back in the Indian team.
Following an extended lean patch, the Saurashtra cricketer was dropped for the home series against Sri Lanka.
He recently featured in the Ranji Trophy, where he scored 191 runs in 3 matches, including two half-centuries. However, the defending champions Saurashtra failed to qualify for the knockouts, finishing second behind the domestic giant Mumbai in Elite Group D.