A stiff neck forced India star Cheteshwar Pujara to retire midway through the opening day of Saurashtra’s Ranji Trophy opener against Chhattisgarh in Rajkot on Thursday.
The India Test batting mainstay had complained of discomfort in the morning because he was trying to bat with an open stance. But he went on to bat at his usual number three position. However, he could face only 64 balls and scored 30 runs before walking off the field after consulting the team physio.
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Saurashtra head coach Shitanshu Kotak later confirmed that the injury was not a serious one.
“He will be ready to bat on Friday, if required,” Kotak told ESPNcricinfo.
Pujara had decided to play at least two games of Ranji Trophy ahead of the tour of Australia. The right-hander will be desperate to do well in Australia after a forgettable outing Down Under four years ago. On the last tour, he had played three matches and managed just 201 runs including only one fifty.
The Australia tour also provides Pujara another opportunity to improve his overseas record. In Australia, England, New Zealand and South Africa, Pujara averages only 29.30 from 21 matches.
Meanwhile, India’s tour of Australia features 3 T20Is, 4 Tests, and 3 ODIs. The teams will first play the three T20Is before resuming the rivalry in Tests.
The first of which will be played from December 6, 2018, at Adelaide Oval. The second Test will be at the Perth Stadium and will begin from December 16. After a week’s break, the two teams will travel to Melbourne for the Boxing Day Test which begins on December 26 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. The fourth and final Test between the two countries will begin from January 3, 2019 at Sydney Cricket Ground.
At the end of the Test series, the two sides will square off in 3-match ODI series, the first of which will be played in SCG on January 12. The series will conclude with the third ODI at MCG on January 18.