Reacting on the squad, former selector MSK Prasad said that Pujara has been in fine form in the Ranji Trophy and his experience and solidity would've come in handy in Australia. against Chhattisgarh. "Pujara just scored a double hundred in the Ranji Trophy. He brings that experience and solidity which the Indian team requires in Australia. I feel, if they had to pick Nitish Reddy, you could have waited for at least one India A match and taken it from thereon," Prasad said. Pujara was the top performer for India during their maiden series win in Australia in 2018-19 as he was adjudged Player of the series in India's 2-1 victory. He finished as the highest run scorer of the series with 521 runs to his name from seven innings at an average of 74.42 with three hundreds and one fifty. Pujara's stellar record in Australia He has a magnificent record in Australia having scored 993 runs from 11 matches at an average of 47.28 with three hundreds and five fifties to his name. as his knock of 56 (211) did a phenomenal job of tiring out the Australian bowlers. As a result, India managed to breach the Gabba fortress by chasing down the target of 329 and won the series 2-1. However, Pujara was dropped from the team after his below-par performances in the World Test Championship (WTC) final 2023 and was never picked up again in the team despite being in stellar form in the Ranji Trophy in the past two seasons.