Sussex Release Cheteshwar Pujara Ahead of 2025 County Championship, Daniel Hughes Replaces India Veteran

New Delhi: India veteran Cheteshwar Pujara will not return to Sussex for next year’s County Championship after the English club decided to relieve him and retain Australian left-handed batter Daniel Hughes.

The Australian batter will be available for all upcoming championship and T20 League matches next season. Sussex also acquired the services of West Indies right-arm fast bowler Jayden Seales, thus bolstering the pace attack.

Pujara played a vital role for Sussex as he returned for a third successive time in 2024. He also played the first seven championship matches before the Australian batter’s arrival.

“Taking over from Cheteshwar is not an easy task, but Dan has fitted in brilliantly and we are all delighted he will be back for the whole of next season,” Sussex head coach Paul Farbrace said in a statement.

The left-handed Hughes was the leading run scorer in the group stages of this year’s Vitality Blast with 560 runs at an average of 43.07 which includes five fifties and a highest score of 96 not out. The Aussie batter helped Sussex beat Lancashire Lightning in the quarterfinals.

“Dan has been top class for us on and off the field. He has brought a wealth of experience to the dressing room and has seriously helped some of our young batters with the development of their games,” Fabrace said.

Pujara had smashed a ton in his last outing for the English club in Middlesex in May. Out of contention from the Indian Test side, Pujara was not even named in either of the four squads in next month’s Duleep Trophy.