Many prominent senior players have come under scanner after India’s crushing defeat against Australia in the World Test Championship (WTC) 2023 final. One of the big names in this list is of Test specialist Cheteshwar Pujara, who bats at the crucial number 3 position. In the year 2022, Pujara scored 409 runs in 5 Tests at an average of 45.44. In the 5 Tests he played this year, Pujara could score only 181 runs at an average of 25.86 with just only 1 half-century in 8 innings.

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India has to play a two-match Test series against West Indies in July. In this series, selectors might decide to remove Pujara and give chance to a new emerging talent in the team.

Here are the three players, who in all likelihood are suitable choices as Pujara’s replacement in India’s Test team.

Abhimanyu Easwaran has consistently performed well in domestic circuit and may get a chance to debut in the Indian Test team soon. Abhimanyu was included in the team for India tour of Bangladesh 2022 after captain Rohit Sharma’s ouster from the squad, but he did not make his debut. Abhimanyu has so far scored 22 centuries and 26 half-centuries in first-class cricket with a batting average of around 48.

Hanuma Vihari is one of the top contenders to replace Cheteshwar Pujara in Indian Test team at number 3. Despite being injured in IND vs AUS Sydney Test in 2021, Vihari impressed everyone with his sportsman spirit. Last time he played for India was in the year 2022 in IND vs ENG Birmingham Test. Since then, he has been running out of the team. Considering Vihari’s experience, he might prove to be the best replacement of Pujara.

28-year-old Baba Indrajith, who plays for Tamil Nadu in domestic cricket, has been scoring fiercely in the last few domestic seasons. His batting average in first-class cricket is 51.85. Like Pujara, he also likes to bat at number 3.