Veteran Indian batsman Cheteshwar Pujara has reached a major milestone in red-ball cricket during the ongoing Ranji Trophy. Cheteshwar Pujara crossed the 20,000 run mark in first-class cricket, becoming the fourth Indian cricketer to achieve this feat.
Cheteshwar Pujara achieved the milestone in the 2024 Ranji Trophy match against Vidarbha in Nagpur. The 35-year-old needed 96 runs to reach the milestone before the match. He successfully scored a total of 109 runs in both innings during the ongoing match.
Cheteshwar Pujara completes 20,000 runs in first cricket
Pujara showed a solid batting performance in Saurashtra’s first innings, contributing 43 runs off 105 balls, which included four boundaries and a six. The experienced cricketer made a significant contribution to the team, helping them reach a total of 206 in Nagpur.
In his second innings, Pujara scored 66 runs off 137 balls, including 10 boundaries. He formed an 87-run partnership with Vishvaraj Jadeja, who contributed 79 runs. Despite his efforts, Saurashtra were bowled out for 244 runs, setting a target of 373 for Vidarbha.
Cheteshwar Pujara has scored 20,013 runs in 260 First Class matches, at a remarkable average of over 51. He has recorded 61 centuries and 78 half-centuries in his illustrious career, scoring the fourth-highest number of runs in red-ball cricket among Indians. . players.
Sunil Gavaskar, Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid have scored more runs than Pujara in red-ball cricket. Additionally, Pujara holds the record for most double centuries in first-class cricket among Indian players, scoring his 17th double century in the first game.
Cheteshwar Pujara has amassed 7,195 runs in 103 Test matches at an average of 43.60, including 19 centuries and 35 fifties. Pujara was India’s second-highest run-scorer in the 2021-23 WTC cycle, amassing 928 runs at an average of 32.
He left out Cheteshwar Pujara without any reason – Harbhajan Singh
“I didn’t select Ajinkya Rahane and left out Cheteshwar Pujara for no reason. These are the two players who have scored runs all over the place. “If you look at the previous record, Pujara has the same contribution as Kohli.” Harbhajan said.
“I don’t understand why Pujara has been left out, we still don’t have a better batsman than Pujara in Test cricket. He plays slow but saves you, thanks to him India won the Test in Australia and England.” he added.
India parted ways with Ajinkya Rahane and Cheteshwar Pujara after the World Test Championship (WTC) final. Pujara and Rahane were absent from the team during the recent Test series in South Africa, while Shreyas Iyer and Shubman Gill retained their places.
Cheteshwar Pujara is eager to return to the Indian team for the longest format of the game. The batsman has delivered impressive performances in the ongoing Ranji Trophy 2023-24 season. While Ajinkya Rahane is struggling with his form in the tournament.
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