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Cheteshwar Pujara Surpasses Brian Lara In An Elite List With 66th First-Class Hundred

Cheteshwar Pujara surpasses Brian Lara [@sportstarweb/X.com]Cheteshwar Pujara surpasses Brian Lara [@sportstarweb/X.com]

Cheteshwar Pujara may not currently feature in India’s Test squad, but his form in first-class cricket remains impressive. On October 21, 2024, playing for Saurashtra in the Ranji Trophy against Chhattisgarh, Pujara notched his 66th first-class century. This remarkable feat saw him surpass West Indies legend Brian Lara's tally of 65.

The century against Chhattisgarh not only elevated Pujara above Lara in the record books but also added another jewel to his illustrious career. With this ton, Pujara reached a tally of 66 first-class centuries, cementing his status as one of the most reliable batters in red-ball cricket. Additionally, this was his 25th Ranji Trophy century, putting him ahead of Vinod Kambli and Subramaniam Badrinath. Among active players, only Paras Dogra has more Ranji centuries.

Pujara’s consistency brings him closer to joining the ranks of Indian greats. He is just two centuries away from Rahul Dravid’s 68 first-class hundreds. The only players ahead of him on the all-time list are Sunil Gavaskar and Sachin Tendulkar, who share the top spot with 81 centuries each. Pujara’s current form suggests he could soon challenge these milestones as well.

Cheteshwar Pujara Surpasses 21,000-Run Mark In First-Class Cricket

In addition to his century, Pujara also achieved another significant milestone during the match. He surpassed the 21,000-run mark in first-class cricket, becoming only the fourth Indian to do so. The other Indian players in this elite club are Gavaskar, Tendulkar, and Dravid. Gavaskar holds the record with 25,834 runs, but Pujara’s career trajectory indicates he may climb further up the list in the coming years.