Cheteshwar Pujara’s Top 10 Test Knocks: A Batting Extravaganza!

Cheteshwar Pujara’s batting is reminiscent of bygone periods, not so much in technique (he is unusually bottom-handed for someone who makes a living from Test cricket) as in temperament. Pujara is a rare successful defensive batsman in an era of counterattacking batters who enjoys wearing down assaults and then feasting on them. He switches to spinners but keeps the ball on the carpet; he never gets tired of scoring runs regardless of the opposition or venue; and his conditioning is focused on what is required for lengthy periods of batting rather than huge biceps with tattoos.

• 135 against England

Pujara’s 135-run outburst came against England in November 2012 at the Wankhede Stadium. To reach this milestone, he batted at no. 3 and faced 350 balls, hitting a dozen boundaries. He pitched a slow pace but composed inning with a strike rate just above 35. His century aided India’s first-innings total of 300. However, India was defeated in the match.

• 143 against Sri Lanka

In November 2017, Pujara scored another test century, this time against Sri Lanka at the Vidarbha Cricket Stadium in Nagpur. He produced another solid knock of 362 balls, striking at around 39 percent. His relatively slow inning featured only 14 boundaries. His century, combined with outstanding scores from Vijay, Kohli, and Rohit Sharma, allowed the hosts to amass a whopping 610 runs in their first innings and go on to win the match by a big margin.

• 145 against Sri Lanka

In August 2015, the experienced batsman recorded his seventh test century against Sri Lanka at the Sinhalese Sports Club in Colombo. He batted as an opener in the first innings of the contest and earned an unbeaten 145 runs off 289 balls. This was another of his calm, steady, and composed innings, with a strike rate of around 50. This 14-bounce performance helped the Indians break the 300-run milestone in their first innings and also helped his team win the test. Pujara was named Man of the Match for his brilliant hammering performance.

• 153 against South Africa

Pujara obtained his sixth test century in the second innings of the first test between India and South Africa at the Wanderers in December 2013. After hitting only 25 in the first innings, he hit a stunning 153 in the second. His innings extended 270 balls and included 21 boundaries. In the second innings, he helped India reach 400 runs. The game finished in a tie.

• 153 against Sri Lanka

In the initial test of the series against Sri Lanka in Galle in July 2017, the right-hand batsman was in fantastic form. He batted at no. 3 and faced 265 balls, scoring 153 odd runs to help the Indian innings. He had a strike rate of slightly over 50 percent, hitting the ball 13 times to the boundary. His explosive batting, combined with Dhawan’s 190, led the visitors to accumulate 600 in the first innings and finish off the match.

• 159 against New Zealand

Pujji recorded his first test century against New Zealand in August 2012 at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad. He faced 306 balls to attain this milestone, hitting 19 fours and even a six. Because of his century, India scored 438 in the initial innings and clinched the match by an innings and 115 runs.

• 193 against Australia

Cheteshwar Pujara came extremely close to a fourth-test double-century against Australia at the Sydney Cricket Ground in January 2019. In this innings, he faced 373 balls and smashed 22 boundaries before being replaced by Lyon just seven runs short of his double-century. This crucial knock, though, helped the visitors record 622 in their first innings and won him the Man of the Match award.

• 202 against Australia

In March of 2017, the Indian top-order batsman reached his third test double-century against the formidable Australians at Ranchi. In response to Australia’s first-innings total of 451, Pujara batted steadily to enable India to establish a first-innings lead. His 202 was made up of 525 balls and 21 boundaries. He had a strike rate of roughly 33 percent. His dedication, though, proved to be crucial as India reached 603 runs in their first innings. The game finished in a tie, and Pujji received the award for Man of the Match.

• 204 against Australia

In the second test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in March 2013, Hyderabad witnessed yet another magnificent knock from the veteran right-hander. He batted at no. 3 and played this excellent knock in 341 balls, sending the ball to the boundary line 30 times and smashing a big six. India took a large first-performance advantage thanks to his flawless innings and won the match by an innings and 135 runs. Pujara was named Man of the Match for his outstanding batting once more.

• 206 against England

Pujara’s first-ever test double-century came against a formidable English side in November 2012 at the Motera Stadium in Ahmedabad. He batted at no. 3 and never put a foot wrong, scoring an undefeated 206 in 389 balls. He also hit 21 boundaries and had a strike rate of just over 50 in his innings. His brilliant performance helped the hosts score a whopping 521 runs in their first innings. India won the match, and naturally, Pujara was named Player of the Match.

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