Indian cricketer Cheteshwar Pujara made history during the Ranji Trophy match against Chhattisgarh, as he hit his 18th double ton in first-class cricket. He now holds the fourth spot on the list of players with the most first-class double centuries, behind legends such as Don Bradman and Wally Hammond. Pujara's impressive performance led Saurashtra to a commanding lead, scoring his 25th century in the Ranji Trophy.
As the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) prepares to announce the team for the upcoming Australia series, all eyes are on veteran batsman Cheteshwar Pujara. With his impressive record against Australia in the last two tours, Pujara's experience could prove crucial for India's success. Meanwhile, selectors must also decide whether to give younger players a chance or stick with Pujara's proven abilities. Despite not featuring for India since the World Test Championship final, Pujara has continued to score runs, with his most recent appearance in the Ranji Trophy showcasing his skill and determination. With India facing challenges in the fast bowling department, the inclusion of players like Nitish Reddy, Shardul Thakur, Akash Deep, and Yash Dayal is also being considered. Mohammed Shami, who is crucial for India's bowling attack, might not be able to fully recover in time for the first matches of the series.
As the Indian cricket team prepares for the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Test series against Australia, all eyes are on who will replace experienced players Ajinkya Rahane and Cheteshwar Pujara in the playing eleven. With the return of these players seeming unlikely, Dinesh Karthik has named Shubman Gill and Sarfaraz Khan as potential replacements. Gill and Khan have shown their abilities in recent matches, making their selection for the series highly anticipated.
Former India player Karsan Ghavri has expressed his disapproval of dropping veteran Cheteshwar Pujara from the Indian team for the ongoing Test series against England. With the absence of Virat Kohli and KL Rahul, the Indian batting lineup has been struggling and Ghavri believes Pujara should have been included in the team. The 72-year-old also suggested that Pujara would have been the perfect replacement for Kohli in the first two Tests and praises his skills as a player. As the third Test approaches, India is likely to give debuts to Sarfaraz Khan and Devdutt Padikkal as replacements for Rahul and Shreyas Iyer, who has been dropped due to underperformance.
Anil Kumble, former Indian captain, has pointed out a crucial flaw in the batting technique of Shubman Gill during the ongoing Test against England. Kumble advised Gill to focus on rotating strikes and adopting a softer approach against spin bowling, drawing parallels with Cheteshwar Pujara and Rahul Dravid. He stressed the need for Gill to excel in the no. 3 position and incorporate these skills into his game.
Indian cricketer Cheteshwar Pujara hit an impressive 243 not out against Jharkhand in the first match of the Ranji Trophy 2024 for Saurashtra. He also became the fourth-highest scorer among Indian first-class players, surpassing VVS Laxman's record. Pujara's innings included 356 balls and 33 fours. He is now tied with Herbert Sutcliffe and Mark Ramprakash for most double-centuries in first-class cricket.