NEW DELHI: Out of favour batter Cheteshwar Pujara on Monday struck a masterful ton for Saurashtra in the Ranji Trophy match against Chhattisgarh in Rajkot.
With the solid ton, Pujara sent a timely reminder to India selectors ahead of the upcoming marquee Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia. The century was Pujara’s 66th in First Class cricket as the veteran continued to pile on runs in the domestic circuit.
With the century, he surpassed West Indies great Brian Lara for most hundreds in First Class cricket.The hundred was also Pujara’s 25th in the Ranji cricket — second most — among active players.
On his way to sixth ton of the year, Pujara also crossed the 21,000-run mark in First Class cricket.
The Pujara ton came after Chhattisgarh piled up 578 for 7 (decl.) after opting to bat.
With the help of 11 boundaries, the 36-year-old notched up a superb century that came off 198 balls.
This is now Pujara’s first ton of this Ranji season after he scored 16 and 0 against Tamil Nadu in Saurashtra’s opening match.
Before the start of Ranji season, Pujara had quite a successful County stint in England where amassed 501 runs for Sussex. In County, Pujara cracked a couple of hundreds as well for Sussex with the highest score of 129 against Middlesex at Lord’s.
With India batters faltering in the opening Test against New Zealand in Bangaluru recently, Pujara, has thrown his hat in the ring for selection in India’s tour Down Under later this year.
Pujara last featured in Tests for India in the World Test Championship Final against Australia in June in 2023.
The top-order batter, who has played 103 Tests for India has 19 hundred in the traditional format.