Star Indian Test cricketer Cheteshwar Pujara continued his purple patch for Sussex in the ongoing County Championship Division Two matches. The 34-year-old from Saurashtra on Wednesday registered his third double century of the ongoing season. Pujara faced a total of 403 deliveries and scored 231 runs, with the help of 21 fours and three sixes.
Cheteshwar Pujara Created A Big Record
Interestingly, Cheteshwar Pujara, who is hailed as the modern legend of this game, is captaining the Sussex team in the ongoing match against Middlesex at the iconic Lord’s Cricket Ground in London. To make his captaincy debut even more memorable, India’s no.3 batter in Test cricket, registered a double century to help his side score a total of 523 runs in the first innings.
With this stunning knock, Cheteshwar Pujara created a big record. He has now scored a total of 16 two-hundred plus scores and has also become the first Indian cricketer to score three double centuries in county cricket.
Pujara shattered former Indian captain and star batter Mohammad Azharuddin’s record, who has scored 2 double centuries during his playing days. Azharuddin, who has represented team India in 99 matches, scored 212 against Leicestershire in 1991 and 205 against Durham in 1994 while playing for Derbyshire.
Talking about Cheteshwar Pujara, apart from scoring 234 runs against Middlesex on Wednesday, Pujara had earlier hammered 203 runs against Durham in the third game of the ongoing championships and 201 against Derbyshire during the second innings of his maiden game.
So far, in total, Pujara has scored 997 runs in 10 innings in seven games. He is the third highest run-getter in Division two games and has a total of 2 centuries apart from three double hundreds.
On the all-time Top 10 list, Cheteshwar Pujara is now at No.5 along with batting greats like CB Fry, Jack Hobbs, and Graeme Hick. In fact, his consistency in reaching 200-plus scores is only second to the legend Bradman’s.
Applaud and clapping for Cheteshwar Pujara at Lord’s dressing room, he scored 231(403). pic.twitter.com/BeoXGy0Zcv
— CricketMAN2 (@ImTanujSingh) July 20, 2022
Yes, you read that right. While Bradman needed around 9 innings to reach double hundreds, Pujara’s double hundreds show up after 25 first-class innings. Comparing him with the active cricketers, on the most first-class 200 lists, Virat is in the second position with 7 with Rohit Sharma (5) and Kane Williamson (5). Pujara is above all his contemporaries.
Lord’s Applaud For Pujara’s Efforts
Meanwhile, as soon as Pujara scored that record-breaking double century, the spectators present at the iconic ground made sure to convey to him how much they loved India batter’s effort. As soon as Pujara smashed the ball on the on-side to complete his double century, his teammates from the balcony stood up and applauded his efforts.
Watch the video:
Out onto the balcony to stand and applaud a fantastic innings.
@cheteshwar1
— Sussex Cricket (@SussexCCC) July 20, 2022
