Cheteshwar Pujara sends India selectors strong message with 243* in Ranji Trophy ahead of IND vs ENG tests

Cheteshwar Pujara hit 17th double century in his First Class career.

Indian batting stalwart Cheteshwar Pujara started off the Ranji Trophy 2023-24 season with a splendid unbeaten double-ton for Saurashtra against Jharkhand. This match is being played in Rajkot and Saurashtra posted 578 for 4 declared in their first innings.

This is Saurashtra’s first match in the new Ranji Trophy season and they chose to bowl first after winning the toss at the SCA ground. Jharkhand were bundled out for just 142 runs as only Kumar Kushagra, Shahbaz Nadeem and Anukul Roy went past the 20-run mark.

Chirag Jani picked 5/22, while Jaydev Unadkat and Aditya Jadeja picked two wickets each for Saurashtra.

When Saurashtra’s turn to bat came, opener Harvik Desai made 85 runs and Sheldon Jackson made 54. But the star of the show remained Cheteshwar Pujara, who made 243* off 356 balls against Jharkhand before Saurashtra declared their first innings for 578 for 4. Prerak Mankad hit an unbeaten 104 as the two batters made light work of the Jharkhand attack.

He maintained a steady strike rate throughout the innings by reaching the 200-run mark in 317 balls. Pujara teamed up with Prerak Mankad to take their team’s total above 500 and stretched their lead to above 360 runs.

Cheteshwar Pujara’s double ton puts BCCI selectors on notice ahead of IND v ENG Tests

Cheteshwar Pujara’s notched up his 17th FC double-century with 243*, which brings him level with Herbert Sutcliffe and Mark Ramprakash of England at the 4th spot in the all-time list. He is behind the likes of Don Bradman (37), Wally Hammond (36), and Patsy Hendren (22) overall.

Meanwhile, this double century couldn’t have come at a better time as the BCCI selectors will be meeting shortly to finalize the Indian team squad for the first two Tests against England. India will meet England in a five-match Test series beginning January 25.

Since the World Test Championship final in July 2023, the senior player has not been a member of India’s Test squad. Shubman Gill, a youngster, has taken the No. 3 place for India in Tests since the West Indies tour. The young batsman did not score any runs in the Test series against South Africa, and his performance has been questioned. Pujara’s double century may provide a ray of optimism for his international Test future.

In 103 Tests for India, Pujara scored 7195 runs at an average of 43.60 with 19 hundreds and 35 fifties

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