New Delhi: Veteran Indian cricketer, Cheteshwar Pujara, who last played a test match in June 2023, during the World Test Championship 2023 finals against Australia, before getting side-lined, is once again making the headlines for his incredible batting performance.
Cheteshwar Pujara, who is known for his risk free and composed batting style, has been focusing on first class cricket, ever since he was axed from the Indian test team, has played a masterclass of an innings during, Ranji Trophy, Group A match against the Jharkhand cricket team.
After Saurashtra skipper, Jaydev Unadkat won the toss and opted to bat first, Harvik Desai (85) and Sheldon Jackson (54), gave Saurashtra a strong start, before Cheteshwar Pujara scored a match-deciding 243 runs not-out innings from 356 balls, with the help of 30 boundaries.
Check out the video below:
𝗗𝗼𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗗𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗖𝗵𝗲𝘁𝗲𝘀𝗵𝘄𝗮𝗿 𝗣𝘂𝗷𝗮𝗿𝗮! 💯💯
A spectacular 2⃣0⃣0⃣ in Rajkot from the Saurashtra batter! 👏👏
Follow the match ▶️ https://t.co/xYOBkksyYt#RanjiTrophy | #SAUvJHA | @IDFCFIRSTBank | @saucricket | @cheteshwar1 pic.twitter.com/ofLZSf2qcl
— BCCI Domestic (@BCCIdomestic) January 7, 2024
Cheteshwar Pujara (243*), along with Prerak Mankad (104*), stitched a massive not-out 256 runs partnership to finish the Saurashtra’s innings at 578 for 4.
This masterclass innings from Pujara, will surely put him under the BCCI selection committee’s radar, who might be looking for some changes during the home test series against England, after the current middle order’s struggle during the recently concluded test series against South Africa in the Rainbow Nation.
Netizens react
As soon as Pujara completed his double hundred, netizens on the social media platform X (Formerly known as Twitter), started to raise their voice, and demand that BCCI to give the Indian veteran another chance during the test series against England, reminding the recent failures of the Indian middle order.
Check out their reactions below:
The moment when Cheteshwar Pujara completed his 200…!!!
– What a way to kick off 2024 Ranji Trophy season.pic.twitter.com/cS8z9l983C
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) January 7, 2024
CHETESHWAR PUJARA IS BACK…!!!!
Double hundred in the first match of Ranji Trophy 2024, dropped from the Indian team but returning in style with the bat for Saurashtra – What a player. 👌⭐ pic.twitter.com/iVQUE8RYPa
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) January 7, 2024
Most double centuries in First Class cricket:
37 – Bradman
36 – Hammond
22 – Hendren
17 – Sutcliffe
17 – Ramprakash
17* – PUJARA #RanjiTrophy2024 pic.twitter.com/kEfhDw8V1w— Bharath Seervi (@SeerviBharath) January 7, 2024
Double Hundred for Cheteshwar Pujara!🔥 pic.twitter.com/Naw5CahZdF
— RVCJ Media (@RVCJ_FB) January 7, 2024
A memorable innings by Cheteshwar Pujara….!!!!
– First match of Ranji season, returning to his state side after being dropped from the Test team and scoring unbeaten 243 runs from 356 balls. A knock to remember in his FC career. ⭐👏 pic.twitter.com/r6UaT6KEpz
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) January 7, 2024
– Dropped from Team India.
– Never give up attitude.
– Practicing hard.
– Playing Ranji first match in 2023.
– Scored Double Hundred.Cheteshwar Pujara is The Fighter – TAKE A BOW, PUJARA. pic.twitter.com/govUH1wQBV
— CricketMAN2 (@ImTanujSingh) January 7, 2024
Monk of Indian Cricket—Che Pujara. Keeps piling on the runs whenever and wherever he bats. 🙇♂️ https://t.co/fHxTeVt5MM
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) January 7, 2024
CHETESHWAR PUJARA IS BACK…!!!!!
He start his 2024 with a magnificent Double hundred in Ranji trophy 2024 first match – What a Legend. pic.twitter.com/hrtWZE5heN
— CricketMAN2 (@ImTanujSingh) January 7, 2024
TAKE A BOW, CHETESHWAR PUJARA…!!!!
He scored 243 runs from 356 balls for Saurashtra in Ranji Trophy 2024 – What a memorable innings from Mr Dependable Pujara. pic.twitter.com/HMYtg1hzI2
— CricketMAN2 (@ImTanujSingh) January 7, 2024
Double-Hundred from Cheteshwar Pujara. pic.twitter.com/IKEaUWwILC
— CricketGully (@thecricketgully) January 7, 2024
Cheteshwar Pujara Makes Strong Statement With Double Ton Ahead Of Squad Announcement
Cheteshwar Pujara made a strong case for his return to Test cricket with a record-extending double century in Ranji Trophy. pic.twitter.com/QaBCAJF8Da
— CrickologyNews (@CrickologyNews) January 7, 2024
The moment when Cheteshwar Pujara completed his 200…!!!
– What a way to kick off 2024 Ranji Trophy season. pic.twitter.com/nmSydHMDhR
— ViralWala X (@viralwalax) January 7, 2024
