Cheteshwar Pujara has time and again, been criticized for his slow-paced batting and his approach to a Test match. On occasions, Indian skipper Virat Kohli has also hinted at the same, but Pujara has continued batting in the manner that he is well known for. He tires out the bowlers and makes them grind for his wicket, which, in turn, leads to frustration, as was revealed by Josh Hazlewood during the recent Test series against India.
As Pujara turns 33, we look at some numbers from his glorious career thus far.
Second highest average at home for India
Pujara is known for batting and batting and batting and is almost invincible at home. The same is reflected in his average as well – his average of 59.84 in India is the highest by any batsman in the country (minimum 1500 runs). Virat Kohli leads the list with an average of 68.42 at home, while Pujara, with 10 tons, follows at the second spot. The cricketer from Saurashtra has beaten players like Mohammad Azharuddin, Sachin Tendulkar, and Rahul Dravid in the list, and the team would hope he can be at his best in the upcoming games against England.
He faces an average of 99.79 balls per innings
Source: Twitter (ICC)
Another astonishing fact about Pujara is the number of balls that he faces in an innings. His ability to bat through all conditions is highlighted in the fact that he faces almost 99.79 balls per innings that he bats. In 136 Test innings’, Pujara has faced 13572 balls, which means he faces close to 100 balls faced in every innings. It is also the fifth-highest in terms of the number of deliveries played in every innings. Geoff Boycott, Rahul Dravid, Jacques Kallis, and Allan Border are the only other batsmen who faced more deliveries in an innings, which puts Pujara is esteemed company.
In the recent Test series against Australia, Pujara faced 928 balls and he played a huge role in helping India script a memorable win. In 2018-19, Pujara had faced 1258 balls Down Under – the highest by any overseas batsman in Australia.
Highest number of balls faced in an innings by an Indian
Pujara created waves and gave a glimpse of his monk like concentration as he faced 525 balls during the Ranchi Test against Australia in 2017. The cricketer scored 202 runs off 525 balls. Which is the highest by any Indian in a single innings. He was also the first Indian to face more than 500 balls in any Test innings.
Most double centuries in domestic cricket
Source: Twitter (ICC)
His penchant for batting and batting is reflected by the runs that Pujara has amassed in domestic cricket. The player has 13 double centuries to his name in Ranji Trophy, which is the highest by any cricketer in India. In Asia, he holds the record of most double tons with Sri Lanka’s Kumar Sangakkara, who also has 13 double centuries.
Pujara’s rare IPL feat
Though known for his Test knocks, Pujara has a rare IPL feat as well – he averages 114 against Rajasthan Royals – the highest by any player against a single team. In 3 games against the Royals, Pujara has scored 114 runs and has not been dismissed even once, which gives him an average of 114.