WATCH: Cheteshwar Pujara shares video of batting practice a day after being dropped from Indian Test team

Cheteshwar Pujara (Source: Twitter)

India's Test specialist Cheteshwar Pujara has been left out of the squad for the series against West Indies following his poor form in the World Test Championship (WTC) final. A day after being dropped from the Indian Test team, the veteran batter shared a video of himself batting on the ground and playing a few shots.

Pujara, who has held the No.3 position over the last decade, is among the few Indian players to play just one game format. However, the 35-year-old has not been in top form recently, which has led to sharp criticism from all quarters.

Check out the video of Pujara batting:

🏏 ❤️ pic.twitter.com/TubsOu3Fah

— Cheteshwar Pujara (@cheteshwar1) June 24, 2023

While many feel Pujara's last Test innings would be in the WTC final, the right-handed batter's father and coach, Arvind, hoped that his son would be able to return to the national side.

"He is mentally very strong. I can't comment about selection. But from what I have seen, he is batting at his best. In fact, he was working hard in the nets the same day post the WI team announcement," he said.

"He has started preparing for the Duleep trophy and will continue playing on the county circuit. As a father and coach, there is no reason for me to believe why he can't comeback," Arvind added.

Why has he been made the scapegoat for our batting failures?: Sunil Gavaskar

Following India's defeat against Australia earlier this month, there were reports that Yashasvi Jaiswal would replace Pujara in red-ball Cricket. Pujara was dismissed cheaply in both the innings. However, legendary cricketer Sunil Gavaskar has slammed Indian selectors for dropping Pujara alone, believing the Saurashtra cricketer has been made the "scapegoat" for India's batting failures.

"Why has he been made the scapegoat for our batting failures? He has been a loyal servant of Indian cricket, a quiet and able achiever. But because he doesn't have millions of followers on whatever platforms who would make a noise in case he gets dropped, you drop him? That is something beyond understanding," Gavaskar said in an interview with Sports Today.