5 milestones Cheteshwar Pujara reached during his knock of 234 for Saurashtra in Ranji Trophy 2024

Cheteshwar Pujara, the reliable stalwart of Indian cricket, once again proved his worth with a phenomenal double century for Saurashtra in the ongoing Ranji Trophy 2024-25. Despite being left out of the Indian national team recently, Pujara has continued to grind hard in the domestic circuit.

His undying determination to earn a recall ahead of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 is evident through his performances. His latest masterclass came during Saurashtra's match against Chhattisgarh, where he scored a remarkable 234 off 383 balls.

Pujara’s innings not only showcased his prowess in red-ball cricket but also saw him achieving multiple personal milestones. His 25th century in the Ranji Trophy and 18th first-class double century further speak of his ability to score big runs on a consistent basis.

Here is a look at five significant milestones Cheteshwar Pujara reached during his knock of 234.

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5 milestones Cheteshwar Pujara reached during his knock of 234 for Saurashtra in Ranji Trophy 2024

#5 66th first-class century

Cheteshwar Pujara reached his 66th first-class century during his magnificent knock for Saurashtra. He achieved the century in 197 balls, displaying his usual patience and grit. With this milestone, Pujara surpassed the great Brian Lara's tally of first-class centuries, further enhancing his legacy in the history of cricket. Only Sunil Gavaskar, Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid have more first-class centuries than Pujara among Indian cricketers.

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#4 Most first-class double centuries by an Indian

Pujara did not stop at just a century, he converted it into a double hundred, marking his 18th double century in first-class cricket. He reached the milestone in 348 balls, eventually finishing with 234 runs. This feat placed him among an elite group of cricketers who have amassed the most double centuries in first-class cricket. Only three players - Don Bradman (37), Wally Hammond (36), and Patsy Hendren (22), have more first-class double hundreds.

Among Indians, Pujara now has the most first-class double hundreds.

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#3 Joint-most double centuries in Ranji Trophy history

By scoring 234, Pujara equaled the record for the most double centuries in Ranji Trophy history, joining Paras Dogra at the top of the list with nine double tons. This milestone makes Pujara a domestic giant in Indian cricket, as his consistent performances in the Ranji Trophy have been pivotal for Saurashtra's success over the years. With this record, Pujara stands ahead of the likes of Abhinav Mukund and Ajay Sharma, who have seven double centuries each in the Ranji Trophy.

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#2 Surpassing 21,000 first-class runs

During his marathon innings, Cheteshwar Pujara also crossed the 21,000-run mark in first-class cricket, becoming only the fourth Indian batter to do so. He joined an exclusive club of legendary cricketers, with Sunil Gavaskar (25,834), Sachin Tendulkar (25,396), and Rahul Dravid (23,784) being the only Indians to have scored more first-class runs than Pujara.

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#1 Fourth-highest first-class hundreds by an Indian

Cheteshwar Pujara’s 66th first-class century puts him just two centuries behind Rahul Dravid, who has 68 centuries in first-class cricket. Among Indian cricketers, only Sunil Gavaskar and Sachin Tendulkar, with 81 centuries each, have more. This milestone highlights Pujara's consistency and longevity in the red-ball format, as he continues to challenge the records of the greatest Indian batters in history.