Cheteshwar Pujara opines after scoring remarkable double ton on Sussex debut

Veteran Indian batter Cheteshwar Pujara has made a strong statement by smashing a brilliant double century on his Sussex debut. He scored an unbeaten 201 off 387 deliveries in the second innings of the County Championship Division 2 game against Derbyshire. His efforts helped Sussex bounce back in the game and earn a draw on Sunday (April 17). The 34-year-old was elated with his effort and he expressed the same after the game.

It must be noted that Pujara, who scored his last Test ton, way back in January 2019, hasn’t been at his best in the last couple of years. While he played handy knocks now and then, consistency was lacking in his performances. Owing to the same, he was dropped, alongside other veterans Ajinkya Rahane and Ishant Sharma, when Sri Lanka traveled to India for a two-match Test series, last month.

Cheteshwar Pujara determined to continue his sensational run

Besides Pujara, opener Tom Haines also smashed a double century as the duo shared a stand of 351 runs in 119 overs, as the game ended in a draw. Meanwhile, Pujara didn’t get any buyers in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 mega auction. Hence, he opted to polish his skills in the County cricket.

Although the batter has endured a lean patch lately, his overall Test record is still staggering. Pujara has played 95 matches in the longest format of the game, scoring 6713 runs at an average of 43.90. He has also smashed 18 centuries alongside 32 fifties in whites. Hence, selectors have all the reasons to give Pujara a recall if he does well consistently.