Cheteshwar Pujara Moves Ahead of Brian Lara with His 66th First-Class Century

Cheteshwar Pujara may not be part of India’s current Test squad, but he continues to shine in first-class cricket. On October 21, 2024, while playing for Saurashtra in the Ranji Trophy against Chhattisgarh, Pujara scored his 66th first-class century, surpassing West Indies legend Brian Lara’s tally of 65 centuries. This remarkable achievement further solidifies Pujara’s reputation as one of the most dependable batters in red-ball cricket.

The century against Chhattisgarh was also Pujara’s 25th in the Ranji Trophy, placing him ahead of Vinod Kambli and Subramaniam Badrinath in that category. Among active players, only Paras Dogra has more Ranji centuries. Pujara’s consistent performance brings him closer to Indian batting greats; he is just two centuries shy of Rahul Dravid’s 68 first-class hundreds. The only players ahead of him in the all-time list are Sunil Gavaskar and Sachin Tendulkar, who are tied at the top with 81 centuries each.

In addition to his century, Pujara achieved another significant milestone by surpassing the 21,000-run mark in first-class cricket. He is now only the fourth Indian to reach this milestone, joining Gavaskar, Tendulkar, and Dravid. While Gavaskar holds the record with 25,834 runs, Pujara’s current form suggests he could ascend further up the list in the coming years. With his achievements, Pujara continues to establish himself as a cornerstone of Indian cricket and a formidable presence in the world of first-class cricket.