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Cheteshwar Pujara scripted history with yet another century for Sussex in the ongoing second-division County Championship match against Gloucestershire at the County Ground in Bristol on Friday (May 5).
Riding on an unbeaten century (129 off 170 as of 82 overs) Pujara became only the sixth Indian to cross 19000 runs in the First-Class cricket. After stepping on this massive milestone, Pujara joined the likes of Sunil Gavaskar, Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, VVS Laxman and Wasim Jaffer in an elite list of Indian cricketers who have racked up most runs in First-Class cricket.
Most First-Class Cricket runs by Indians
Sunil Gavaskar - 25834
Sachin Tendulkar - 25396
Rahul Dravid - 23794
VVS Laxman - 19730
Wasim Jafffer - 19410
Cheteshwar Pujara - 19043*
This is Pujara's second century in three matches for Sussex in a second division County Championship against Gloucestershire. Not just this, Pujara also leapfrogged the Wasim Jaffer in terms of notching most First-Class centuries. Pujara now has 59 tons against his names while Jaffer has 57 cents in First-Class cricket. Notably, Sachin Tendulkar tops the chart with a stunning 81 First-Class centuries against his name.
Pujara is playing alongside Steve Smith for Sussex, however, the latter fell for just 30 off 57. Interestingly the duo who plays for different teams in the International cricket will be going against each other in the upcoming World Test Championship Final against Australia at the Oval in London, starting June 7.
Right ahead of the match , Pujara had said that it will be mixed feelings, playing alongside Smith with whom he would be locked in a tough fight within three weeks of sharing the dressing room.
“We will be playing the WTC final, so it will be mixed feelings. On the field we always have good battles, but off the field we are good friends,” Pujara had said.
Pujara, who was dropped from India's Test squad after the South Africa series 2021-2022, made a stunning comeback riding on his red-hot form which is on since Country season in 2022. The 35-year-old has amassed 1094 runs in 13 innings at a stunning average of 109.40 on the back of five tons.
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