Cheteshwar Pujara has matched himself while playing in the ongoing county championship. The Indian batsman spreads the spark of runs in every match with the bat. He has been doing one century after another, double century, touching a 28-year-old record. And by this, the right-handed top-order showed his ability again.
Pujara touched Mohammad Azharuddin’s record by scoring the second double century of the ongoing county season against Durham. He played an unbeaten 201 for Sussex against Derbyshire, and he got another double century in the third match. This time he played an innings of 203 runs against Durham. He also led the team to a better place by the stand of 154 runs with Pakistani batsman Mohammad Rizwan.
Only one of the Indian batters has scored two double centuries in the county before Pujara. Azharuddin was the first and only batsman to do so. He scored 212 for Derbyshire against Lancashire in 1991, and he then played an innings of 205 against Darhar for the same team in 1994. However, Azharuddin’s two double centuries have come in two different seasons. In that case, Pujara has scored two double centuries in one season.
Pujara now owns 15 double centuries in his first-class cricket career after his double century against Durham. No other batter in Asia has so many double centuries. Legendary Sri Lankan batsman Kumar Sangakkara is after Pujara with 13 double centuries. Besides, eight other batsmen in the world have more than 15 double centuries. Of course, they all retired earlier. As a result, Pujara is the top batsman who has scored the most two double centuries.
While stars from other parts of the world are performing in his home league (IPL), Pujara went to play in the county without getting a chance in the IPL at the same time. With 1 century and 2 double centuries, Pujara may have wanted to clarify that he is at least worthy of the game. Meanwhile, he played the last Test for the country in January 2022. Pujara has scored 52 (43 and 9) in the two innings of the Cape Town Test against South Africa.