Pujara released from Championship season

Cheteshwar Pujara will not be returning to Sussex for the 2025 County Championship season. The club has decided to release him to accommodate Australian batsman Daniel Hughes, who will be available for all Championship and T20 Vitality Blast matches next year. Sussex also announced that West Indies fast bowler Jayden Sales will join the team for the initial block of Championship fixtures.

Pujara, who played for Sussex for the third consecutive year in 2024, featured in the first seven Championship matches before Hughes arrived. Sussex head coach Paul Farbrace commented, “Replacing Cheteshwar is no small feat, but Dan has integrated seamlessly into the team. We’re thrilled he’ll be back for the full season next year.”

Hughes was the top run-scorer in the group stages of this year’s Blast, amassing 560 runs at an average of 43.07, including five fifties and a top score of 96 not out. He played a crucial role in helping Sussex secure a quarter-final spot against Lancashire Lightning. Farbrace praised Hughes for his contributions on and off the field, noting his impact on the development of young players.

Pujara scored a century in his final game for Sussex against Middlesex in May 2024. Currently omitted from the Indian Test squad and not included in the Duleep Trophy squads, Pujara’s Saurashtra teammate Jaydev Unadkat will continue his stint with Sussex from the previous season.