Cheteshwar Pujara : 5 Highest Scoring Innings of his Test Career
Cheteshwar Pujara is one of the most reliable test cricketers in Indian test cricket history. He is known for his temperament to play for longer duration without becoming aggressive. With his patience, he can irritate any bowler and make them give away freebies. Playing at No.4, he is carrying the load of India's batting in tests.
In 61 tests, Pujara has scored 4635 runs at an average of 49.31 with 18 half-centuries and 14 centuries. Though he has only played in 61 tests till date, it is safe to say he will probably end up as one of the top 5 Indian test cricketers of all time.
Pujara who is seen as the right replacement for Rahul Dravid in tests has played some really good knocks in test cricket in a very short span of time. We look at five of the highest scoring innings of his test career.
#5 153 vs Sri Lanka at Galle, 2017
India visited Sri Lanka for a 3-matches test series in 2017. In the first test, India won the toss and chose to bat first. India lost its opener Abhinav Mukund for just 12 runs and the team was struggling at 27-1. Pujara who then walked in at No.3 went on to build a partnership of 253 runs with Shikhar Dhawan. He scored 153 off 265 balls with 13 fours. Dhawan scored 190 off 168 with 31 fours and a terrific strike rate of 113.10. India posted 600 runs on the scoreboard.
Sri Lanka who then came in to bat only scored 291 runs in the first innings. Jadeja picked up 3 wickets for 67 runs. India did not enforce the follow-on and scored 240 for the loss of 3 wickets before they decided to declare.
With a very high target of 550, Sri Lanka got bundled out for just 245 runs and India won by 304 runs. Jadeja and Ashwin picked up 3 wickets each. Though Dhawan was rightly man of the match for his blazing knock, Pujara's innings was appreciated by everyone and will be remembered as one of the most crucial knocks of his career.