Cheteshwar Pujara will participate in the Ranji Trophy for Saurashtra.

The Saurashtra Cricket Association has picked India’s Test specialist batter Cheteshwar Pujara in the 21-member team for the Ranji Trophy, which begins on February 10.

Saurashtra’s league matches are played in Ahmedabad. They are a member of Elite group D. Mumbai, Odisha, and Goa – domestic heavyweights and 41-time Ranji champions – are placed alongside Saurashtra. Jaydev Unadkat has been named as the skipper, an experienced campaigner, and prolific left-arm.

The squad is presently training at the SCA Stadium in Mumbai and is scheduled to arrive in Ahmedabad on Thursday evening. Chetan Sakariya, a pace bowler who created a name for himself in the IPL, has also been included in the team.

Sheldon Jackson, a seasoned campaigner, has been included in the team, as have regulars Arpit Vasavada, Kamlesh Makwana, Chirag Jani, Prerak Mankad, youthful stumper Harvik Desai, and vital spinner Dharmendrasinh Jadeja.

The Ranji Trophy, which did not take place last year due to the COVID-19 outbreak, was set to commence on January 13 but was postponed due to the third wave of illnesses across the country.

It will now be held in two stages, with the first commencing on Thursday and lasting through March 15 at various locations across the country. The biggest domestic tournament will then take a hiatus for the IPL before returning from May 30 to June 26.

Squad: Jaydev Unadkat (Captain), Cheteshwar Pujara, Sheldon Jackson, Arpit Vasavada, Chirag Jani, Kamlesh Makwana, Dharmendrasinh Jadeja, Chetan Sakariya, Prerak Mankad, Vishvarajsinh Jadeja, Harvik Desai, Kevin Jivrajani, Kushang Patel, Jay Chauhan, Samarth Vyas, Parthkumar Bhut, Yuvrajsinh Chudasama, Devang Karamta, Snell Patel, Kishan Parmar, and Aditya Jadeja.