Cheteshwar Pujara sizzles with third consecutive ton in County cricket

India’s Test specialist Cheteshwar Pujara is racking up runs at will in the ongoing County Championship playing for Sussex. Not long ago, he was dropped from the Test side following a poor run of form for a long time. He was left out after India lost the three-match Test series to South Africa away from home and Pujara’s form came under the scanner. Selectors dropped him alongside another struggling batter Ajinkya Rahane for the home series against Sri Lanka.

Pujara returned to domestic cricket in search of form and hit two half-centuries in five innings for Saurashtra in the Ranji Trophy. Also, while most of the Indian cricketers are busy playing in the Indian Premier League (IPL), he decided to play in the County Championship after going unsold in the mega auction. Sussex signed him for the tournament and Pujara has repaid the faith showed in him by the County team.

He has scored three consecutive centuries including a double ton with the latest one coming on Friday (April 29) against Durham at the County Ground in Hove.

Pujara scores a ton while batting at five

Cheteshwar Pujara came out to bat at five on the second day of the game with Sussex struggling a bit at 108/3 and held one end well stitching crucial partnerships. He first added 99 runs for the fourth wicket with Tom Alsop and then took Tom Clark by his side to take Sussex into the lead. Pujara will be the key for them if Sussex are to register their first win of the tournament. So far, they have played three matches and lost two while one match ended in a draw.

Coming back to Pujara’s form, he scored 201* and 109 runs in the other two matches while failing in the other innings of those respective games. It remains to be seen now if the Saurashtra cricketer manages to carry on and score another double ton for Sussex. Meanwhile, the Indian fans were delighted to see him regain his form ahead of India’s England tour where the team is set to play the remaining fifth Test in July. It remains to be seen if Pujara will make a comeback for that Test match after scoring a truckload of runs in County cricket.