"Will India consider him for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy?" - Aakash Chopra on Cheteshwar Pujara scoring his 18th first-class double century
Aakash Chopra has questioned whether Cheteshwar Pujara should be considered for India's upcoming Test tour of Australia after the Saurashtra batter scored a double century in the Ranji Trophy. He highlighted Pujara's match-defining performances in the last two away editions of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
India are currently facing New Zealand in a three-match Test series, with the second game starting in Pune on Thursday, October 24. They will subsequently travel to Australia for five Tests, with the first game scheduled to start in Perth on November 22.
In a video shared on his YouTube channel 'Aakash Chopra', the former India opener questioned whether Pujara should be in the team management's thoughts for the Australia tour.
"Will India consider him for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy? The series before the last one was Pujara's series. However, last time as well, everyone forgets that while breaking Gabba's pride his entire body had turned blue by continuously getting hit by balls," he said (3:45).
Chopra pointed out that the current Indian lineup lacks a defensive batter.
"So there too Pujara was there and you don't see a defensive batter in this entire team. Is India still thinking? I am not sure they are but should they?" he observed.
Pujara has amassed 7195 runs at an average of 43.60 in 103 Tests. He has a better record in Australian conditions, with his 993 runs in 11 Tests coming at an average of 47.28.
"He is cricket's pujari" - Aakash Chopra on Cheteshwar Pujara scoring his 18th first-class double century
![Cheteshwar Pujara scored 234 runs in Saurashtra's first innings against Chhattisgarh. [P/C: Getty]](https://statico.sportskeeda.com/editor/2024/10/87216-17295682897392-1920.jpg?w=500)
In the same video, Aakash Chopra noted that Cheteshwar Pujara is among the cricketing elite based on his first-class double-century count.
"Cheteshwar Pujara now has 18 double centuries. He is cricket's pujari and his name is Pujara. He is outstanding. Three players are ahead of him still, I was reading a tweet from Circle of Cricket - Don Bradman, Wally Hammond and Patsy Hendren. Herbert Sutcliffe and Mark Ramprakash are below him," he said.
The cricketer-turned-commentator added that the 36-year-old's hunger for runs is 'unbelievable'.
"18 first-class double centuries - Cheteshwar Pujara sahab, you are different, you are unbelievable. He keeps scoring runs like this always. He is absolutely stellar," Chopra stated.
Pujara has scored 21149 runs at an average of 52.34 in 273 first-class games. He has struck 66 centuries, including crossing the 200-run mark 18 times, with a top score of 352.