Indian batter Cheteshwar Pujara scored his 18th double-century in first-class cricket in Ranji Trophy 2024-25. It was in the Saurashtra vs Chhattisgarh match in the Ranji Trophy (Elite group) 2024-25.
Pujara scored an excellent 234 runs to help his side end the game in a draw. He was an integral part of India’s test squad for years and has given some exceptional performances over the years. He is currently not in the squad but has been performing consistently in first-class cricket.
This was Pujara’s 18th double-century in first-class cricket which takes him ahead of England’s Mark Prakash and Herbert Sutcliffe’s record of 16 double-centuries in first-class cricket. Cheteshwar Pujara now has the 4th most double-centuries in first-class cricket. It’s an excellent record for the 36-year-old.
Don Bradman (37), Walter Hammond (36) and Elias Hendren (22) are the only ones with more double hundreds than Cheteshwar Pujara (18) in first-class cricket. Pujara has 21,149 runs in first-class cricket after 273 games at an average of 52.32 including 66 centuries, 18 double-centuries and three triple-centuries. He’s a stalwart in first-class cricket.
Cheteshwar Pujara grinding hard in first-class cricket
Since he was dropped from the Indian test squad, Pujara has been playing domestic cricket. One can see videos of him practising on his social media profiles. In the last game against Chhattisgarh, was the best batter from his side.
Batting first Chhattisgarh declared for a mammoth score of 578-7. Skipper Amandeep Khare (203) runs led the team from the front. Saurashtra lost an early wicket with a huge score in front.
Then comes Cheteshwar Pujara (234) who led Saurasthra’s collective batting effort as they ended with 478-8. The match ended in a draw. Both sides played only one innings before the match ended.
Pujara made his test debut back in 2010 against Australia in Bengaluru. Since then was a key member of the Indian test side for more than a decade. He has 7195 test runs in 103 innings at an average of 43.60 including 19 centuries. Pujara last played for India in the 2023 World Test Championship final. He was then dropped from the squad after a string of low scores.
