Cheteshwar Pujara's Stunning Admission: A Teammate Wanted Him Dropped

Pujara’s Wife Exposes Behind-the-Scene Drama During India’s Historic Australia Tour

Cheteshwar Pujara, India's stalwart Test batsman, has faced his fair share of challenges on and off the field. But perhaps the most painful moment came when he overheard a conversation about his potential exclusion from the team during a phone call, coinciding with his struggles with injury and his father's medical emergency. His wife, Puja Pujara, sheds light on this and other unseen aspects of his life in her book, ‘The Diary of a Cricketer's Wife’.

The Adelaide High and Perth Low

During the Australian tour for the 2018-19 season, Pujara performed the incomparable in the test at Adelaide, where he made 136 runs in the first innings and 71 in the second, thus placing India 1-0 ahead of Australia. Perth, however, arrived with an unkind turn in the story—hamstring injury and a minimal contribution of 28 runs to piling Indian defeat by 146 runs. Arvind Pujara fell ill during the series, and his father had to be hospitalized. Pujara braved through all of this and started his long and difficult journey of recovery against the worst personal crisis.

The Shocking Phone Call

Pujara may have overheard a nasty phone call with another unknown person in just three days, possibly due to an apparent physical conditioning reason. "He gave no sign he had heard it. Neither did he reveal his father's condition to the team," writes Puja. It was away from his room, full of exotic leopard print with black and gold thread; his exposure to the actual conversation showed total rejection of the first call. Attractive match practice was employed to soothe unfairly eager critics. Such a mammoth total of 521 runs has surely silenced most of them.

The Birthday Revelation 

Months afterward, Puja chanced upon the event. "When you are listening to that moving birthday message for Pujara on Instagram, silence speaks louder than words. Push him to talk, and he will say, 'This person you're praising wanted me dropped'." And his response? "Such things happen. I played well—that's what matters." This revelation reveals a great deal about Pujara and his resilience in the face of the cutthroat politics that often befall the families of cricket.

Legacy Beyond the Drama

In the chaos, Pujara was given the Player of the Series for his remarkable performance in India's historic first Test series triumph in Australia. However, the national team omitted him in 2023. His cryptic tweet, "Sore today, strong tomorrow," reflected his invincible spirit. Speculations regarding his exclusion are rife; however, the form he displayed in the 2025 Ranji Trophy, including an awe-inspiring innings of 234 runs, keeps hope alive for his revival.

Conclusion: Silent Battles, Loud Legacy 

Pujara's journey transcends cricket, revealing the untold struggles and triumphs that shape a hero. His wife's candid portrayal humanizes the sports icon, underscoring that it's the battles fought off the field that often define our greatest champions.