Pujara slams 18th first-class double ton to boost selection hopes for Aus series

Indian middleorder batting veteran Cheteshwar Pujara continues pushing his case for the BorderGavaskar Trophy 202425 selection as he overtook England legend Herbert Sutcliffe to become the player with the fourthhighest double centuries in firstclass cricketDuring the Elite Group D match against Chhattisgarh on Monday Pujara scored 234 in 383 balls with 25 fours and a six His runs came at a strike rate of 6109 His knock helped Saurashtra score 4788 in reply to Chhattisgarhs first innings total of 5787 declared which came due to a fine century from Sanjeet Desai 146 and a double ton from skipper Amandeep Khare 203 The match ended in a drawThis is Pujaras 18th double ton in firstclass cricket the most by an Indian He has overtaken Sutcliffe 17 double tons to reach at fourth spot in the alltime firstclass cricket doubleton scoring listAt the top is Australian legend Don Bradman 37 double tons followed by England legend Wally Hammond 36 double centuries and Englands Elias Hendren 22 double tonsPujara last played a Test match for India in June last year during the ICC World Test Championship final against Australia in the UK which India lost Pujara along with Ajinkya Rahane was the backbone of Indian middleorder batting from the early 2010s to the early 2020sAlso Read BorderGavaskar Trophy 202425 Painfree Mohammed Shami optimistic about selection for Australia TestsPujara has represented India in 103 Tests scoring 7195 runs at an average of 4360 with 19 centuries and 35 fifties in 176 innings His best score is 206 Pujara has also played five ODIs for India However since Indias historic win over Australia at The Gabba in Brisbane in January 2021 his statistics took a huge nosedive Since that iconic victory which also helped India gain an inspirational series win in Australia Pujara represented India in 22 Tests further scoring just 1084 runs at an underwhelming average of 2929 with just a century and seven fifties to show in 40 innings Owing to these poor performances he was dropped from the teamHowever his firstclass cricket form this year could help him get back into the reckoning for the Indian team In 16 firstclass matches for Saurashtra and Sussex this year Pujara has scored 1580 runs in 25 innings at an average of 6869 with six centuries and three fifties with the best score of 243 He is the thirdhighest rungetter in the format this yearHis vast experience in the BorderGavaskar Trophy against Australia starting from November 22 this year could be helpful for India having made 2033 runs in 24 matches at an average of 5082 with five tons and 11 fifties in 43 innings with the best score of 204 In 11 Tests played in Australia he has made 993 runs at an average of 4728 with three tons and five fifties in 21 innings with the best score of 193However the players standing in his way are likes of youngsters like Shubman Gill and Sarfaraz Khan who have filled up the crucial spots of number three and number five recently with their fine performancesAt number three a spot where Pujara thrived Gill has made 782 runs in 12 matches and 21 innings at an average of 4344 with three tons and two fifties His best score is 119 In Tests this year Gill has scored 662 runs at an average of 5092 with three centuries and two fifties with best score of 119Also making his muchanticipated India debut this year Sarfaraz has scored 350 runs in four Tests at an average of 5833 in seven innings with a strike rate of 7777 He has made a century and three fifties with the best score of 150 He has batted at number four five and six for India so farComing to the BorderGavaskar Trophy 202425 against India after the first Test at Perth the second Test scheduled for December 6 to 10 at Adelaide Oval will feature the exciting daynight format under the stadiums lights After that fans will turn their attention to The Gabba in Brisbane for the third Test which will be held from December 14 to 18The customary Boxing Day Test set for December 26 to 30 at Melbournes storied Melbourne Cricket Ground will bring the series to its penultimate stageThe fifth and final Test taking place at the Sydney Cricket Ground from January 3 to 7 will serve as the series climax promising a dramatic conclusion to an exciting contestWith agency inputs