Cheteshwar Pujara, a key player for Indian cricket, showed his skill once again with an outstanding double century for Saurashtra in the Ranji Trophy 2024-25. Even though he has not been part of the Indian national team recently, Pujara continues to work hard in domestic cricket.
His strong desire to make a comeback ahead of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 is clear from his impressive performances. In Saurashtra’s match against Chhattisgarh, he scored an impressive 234 runs off 383 balls.
Pujara’s innings not only displayed his talent in red-ball cricket but also allowed him to reach several personal milestones. His 25th century in the Ranji Trophy and his 18th first-class double century highlight his ability to score large totals consistently.
Here are five milestones of Cheteshwar Pujara in the Ranji Trophy 2024
| Milestone | Details |
|---|---|
| First-Class Centuries | 66th Century |
| Century Achieved In | 197 balls |
| Surpassed Player | Brian Lara (Total: 65 centuries) |
| First-Class Double Centuries | 18th Double Century |
| Double Century Achieved In | 348 balls |
| Surpassed Players | Don Bradman (37), Wally Hammond (36), Patsy Hendren (22) |
| Ranji Trophy Double Centuries | 9 (Tied with Paras Dogra for most in Ranji history) |
| Ranji Trophy Double Centuries Compared To | Abhinav Mukund, Ajay Sharma (7 each) |
| First-Class Runs | Over 21,000 runs (4th Indian to achieve this) |
| Legendary Players with More Runs | Sunil Gavaskar (25,834), Sachin Tendulkar (25,396), Rahul Dravid (23,784) |
| First-Class Hundreds Compared To | 4th Highest among Indians (2 behind Rahul Dravid) |
| Highest First-Class Hundreds by Indians | Sunil Gavaskar, Sachin Tendulkar (81 each) |
1. 66th First-Class Century
Cheteshwar Pujara hit his 66th first-class century during his impressive innings. He reached this milestone in 197 balls, showcasing his typical patience and determination. With this century, he surpassed the legendary Brian Lara’s total of first-class centuries, strengthening his place in cricket history. Among Indian players, only Sunil Gavaskar, Sachin Tendulkar, and Rahul Dravid have more first-class centuries than Pujara.
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2. Most First-Class Double Centuries by an Indian
Pujara didn’t just stop at a century; he converted it into a double century, marking his 18th double hundred in first-class cricket. He achieved this in 348 balls and finished with 234 runs. This accomplishment places him among a select group of cricketers with the highest number of double centuries in first-class cricket. Only Don Bradman (37), Wally Hammond (36), and Patsy Hendren (22) have more double centuries in this format.
Among Indians, Pujara now holds the record for the most first-class double centuries.
3. Joint-Most Double Centuries in Ranji Trophy History
With his score of 234, Pujara matched the record for the most double centuries in Ranji Trophy history, tying with Paras Dogra at the top with nine double tons. This achievement makes Pujara a major figure in Indian domestic cricket, as his steady performances in the Ranji Trophy have been vital for Saurashtra’s success. Pujara now stands ahead of Abhinav Mukund and Ajay Sharma, both of whom have seven double centuries in the Ranji Trophy.
4. Surpassing 21,000 First-Class Runs
During his lengthy innings, Cheteshwar Pujara also crossed the 21,000-run mark in first-class cricket, becoming only the fourth Indian batter to do so. He joins a prestigious group of legendary cricketers, with only Sunil Gavaskar (25,834), Sachin Tendulkar (25,396), and Rahul Dravid (23,784) having scored more runs in first-class cricket than Pujara.
5. Fourth-Highest First-Class Hundreds by an Indian
Cheteshwar Pujara’s 66th first-class century puts him just two centuries behind Rahul Dravid, who has 68 first-class centuries. Among Indian cricketers, only Sunil Gavaskar and Sachin Tendulkar, each with 81 centuries, have more. This milestone emphasizes Pujara’s consistency and longevity in red-ball cricket, as he continues to challenge the records of India’s greatest batters.
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