Indian Board President's XI vs SA: Eyeing Test return, Cheteshwar Pujara dismissed for 5

Pujara's has struggled in the current Ranji season as well.

New Delhi: Ahead of the four-match Test series, Cheteshwar Pujara's plan to cement a permanent place in India's Test squad suffered a jolt as he was dismissed for 5 runs on the opening day of the ongoing match between Indian Board President's XI vs South Africa.

Pujara was dismissed in the sixth over of the innings by Vernon Philander. Unmukt Chand and Shreyas Iyer were were dismissed for 4 and 9 runs respectively after having a good Ranji season.

Pujara hasn't been in good form of late, as he accumulated just 64 runs from five innings playing for Saurashtra in current Ranji season.

When India toured Sri Lanka earlier this year, surprisingly, he wasn't the first choice of the selectors who preferred to play Lokesh Rahul and Shikhar Dhawan. Pujara was included only for the third Test after Shikhar Dhawan was ruled out due to injury.

He made the best of the opportunity with a 145-run knock in the match which India won by 117 runs. However, he was dismissed for a first-ball duck in the second innings.

While Murali Vijay is all set to open the innings in whites against the Saffers, it is yet to be seen whether selectors would play Pujara or Lokesh Rahul.

Rahul scored 72 runs against the fiery South African attack for the Board President XI.