(Cricket News) Cheteshwar Pujara seized the opportunity with delight. A gentle tap to the short fine-leg fielder allowed him to run a single, marking his 17th double century in first-class cricket. This achievement put him in the company of the legendary Herbert Sutcliffe. Pujara now stands among the elite few, with only Don Bradman (37), Wally Hammond (36), and Patsy Hendren (22) having more double centuries than him. Known as the immovable object in India’s batting lineup, Pujara’s unbeaten 243, coupled with a century from Prerak Mankad (104 n.o), led Saurashtra to declare at 578/4 in their first innings, positioning them for an innings win over Jharkhand.
Despite the visitors putting up a fight and ending the third day at 140/2 at stumps, they still trail by 296 runs in the Elite Group A fixture. Cheteshwar’s historic moment unfolded in his hometown, Rajkot, where he calmly acknowledged the applause from teammates and friends without any extravagant celebrations. With the imminent five-Test series against England and younger players facing challenges, His remarkable innings serves as a notice to selectors about his consistent run-scoring. Even though a return to the national side is uncertain, Pujara continues to embody his resilience and the value of being an anchor in the game.
Pujara’s innings of 356 balls stands as a testament to the art of constructing an innings, providing a valuable lesson for the younger generation. Despite potential hurdles, Pujara’s dedication to the game remains unwavering. His love for batting and the sport, in general, drives him, as he once expressed, “Of course, playing for the country is the ultimate motivation. But then you are driven by the love of batting too.” Currently, Pujara embraces the challenge of showcasing the significance of the Ranji Trophy, emphasizing its importance in domestic cricket. His intensity and commitment remain unchanged, influencing and guiding the younger players by demonstrating how it’s done.
Pujara seems to be on a journey similar to those undertaken by past cricketers like Ajit Agarkar and S Sharath, who continued to play domestic cricket even after their international careers ended. The selectors desire Pujara to compete with the younger generation and maintain the required level of intensity at the top level, akin to Agarkar’s and Sharath’s examples. Pujara, at this stage, has nothing to prove; he doesn’t need runs to rejoin the Indian fold.
His contributions span various nations and domestic competitions, and his focus now extends to making the Ranji Trophy a continued force in Indian cricket. In the upcoming summer, while India is engrossed in the IPL, Pujara will be engaged in county cricket, further showcasing his dedication to the game.
For the Indian selectors, VVS Laxman’s 1,415 runs in a single edition of the Ranji Trophy in 1999/2000 has remained a sacred reference for two decades. As selectors often refer to this remarkable feat, Pujara’s journey serves as a modern-day example of commitment and passion for the game. The match’s brief scores stand at Jharkhand 140 and 140/2 (Kumar Deobrat 74 batting) trailing Saurashtra 578/4 declared (Cheteshwar Pujara 243 not out; Prerak Mankad 104 not out) by 296 runs.
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