Indian middle-order maestro Cheteshwar Pujara achieved the milestone of 20,000 runs in first-class cricket, solidifying his position as one of India’s batting stalwarts.
The 34-year-old accomplished this historic landmark during Saurashtra’s Ranji Trophy clash against Vidarbha in Nagpur.
Pujara exhibited his class with the bat in the match, contributing significantly to Saurashtra’s success.
In the first innings, he notched up 43 from 105 balls, featuring four boundaries and a six. The veteran cricketer followed it up with a resilient 66 in the second innings, facing 137 balls and smashing 10 boundaries.
Saurashtra emerged victorious in the encounter, securing a win by 238 runs.
With this achievement, Pujara now has 20,013 runs from 260 matches, boasting an impressive average of 51.98 in his first-class career. His stellar record includes an outstanding 61 centuries and 78 fifties, with a highest score of 352.
Pujara now stands as the fourth Indian batsman to breach the 20,000-run mark in first-class cricket, joining the elite company of legends like Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, and Sunil Gavaskar.
Despite his prolific domestic form, Pujara has been absent from the Indian Test squad since June 2023, following the ICC World Test Championship final against Australia in the UK.
In his illustrious Test career, spanning 103 matches, Pujara amassed 7,195 runs at an average of 43.60. His international record includes 19 centuries and 35 fifties, with a highest score of 206*.
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