Pujara 1st Sussex Batter in 125 years to hit a double 100

Cheteshwar Pujara keeps on heaping on the runs and breaking records in County cricket. On Wednesday, the India Test maestro stripped off his sixteenth top notch double-century at the Lord’s while captaining Sussex against Middlesex in the ongoing County Championship.

Pujara is the principal hitter in Sussex history to score a double-century against Middlesex at Lord’s. Remarkably, the last Sussex player to hit a twofold ton at the Home of Cricket was Pujara’s comrade, the incredible Colonel HH Shri Sir Ranjitsinhji Vibhaji II.

The double hundred from Ranjitsinhji came 125 years back against the MCC.

Pujara is currently joint-fifth in the rundown of the most double-centuries in first-class cricket history imparting the spot with the likes of CB Fry, Jack Hobbs and Graeme Hick.

The rundown is led by Australian Don Bradman who made an eye-popping 37 double tons during his legendary career. Second on this list is Walter Hammond who made 36 such scores while Elias Hendren finishes the top three with 22 double centuries to his name.

Pujara scored 231 off 403 deliveries, an innings that included 21 fours and three sixes and aided Sussex to their highest ever point score – 523-all out at the venue.

“Cheteshwar has said he doesn’t really keep count on his runs, so I doubt he’ll know (he’s the first Sussex batter to score 200 against Middlesex at Lord’s), but he’s a fantastic player,”

Sussex batter Tom Alsop was quoted as saying by The Argus.

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“We talk about having world-class basics and for me it’s not only his technical ability but his mental strength, to be able to concentrate and get back into each ball. His method and routine is second to none really.”

He continued

Pujara had been dropped from the India crew following the South Africa tour. In any case, through a productive run in the ongoing County Championship, the veteran drove his direction once again into Test cricket and was recalled for the rescheduled fifth Test against England recently at Edgbaston.

Double century for Cheteshwar Pujara on his debut for Sussex. Absolute brilliant stuff by Pujara. pic.twitter.com/WEXddqOtmg

— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) April 17, 2022