Veteran Indian batter Cheteshwar Pujara achieved a new milestone in his first-class career. The 36-year-old scored a double century for Saurashtra in the ongoing Ranji Trophy 2024-25 match against Chhattisgarh at the Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Rajkot. With this, Pujara also completed 21000 runs in his career in first-class cricket. With the help of Pujara’s knock, Saurashtra scored 478/8 in response to Chhattisgarh's first innings total of 578/7 before the match ended in a draw on day four.
Batting first, Chhattisgarh declared their first innings at the score of 578 runs for the loss of seven wickets. Amandeep Khare played a captain’s knock of 203(294) runs with 20 fours and four sixes, along with Sanjeet Desai’s 146 runs off 241 balls. Along with them, Ayush Pandey, Eknath Kerkar, and Shubham Agarwal also scored half-centuries as Chhattisgarh crossed 550 runs in the first innings.
Cheteshwar Pujara has most double centuries among Indian players in first-class cricket
In reply to Chhattisgarh’s total of 578/7, Saurashtra didn’t have a good start as they lost first wicket at the score of 13 runs. After that, Cheteshwar Pujara took charge of the innings along with Chirag Jani (40 off 72). After that, Pujara added 109 runs with Sheldon Jackson (62 off 106) and 147 runs with Arpit Vasavada (73 off 113) for the third and fourth wicket respectively. The right-hander got out after a well-made 234(383) runs with 25 fours and one six.
After completing his 85th run on day four of the Ranji Trophy clash, Cheteshwar Pujara also completed his 21000 runs in first-class cricket. Cheteshwar Pujara has now 66 centuries in first-class cricket including 18 double centuries. With this, the right-hander now also most double hundred by an Indian batter in first-class cricket. Behind him, Vijay Merchant is in second place with 11 first-class double centuries to his name.
