5 Unique records created by Cheteshwar Pujara

Several batting legends who have exemplified tenacity and grit have played in Indian Test cricket. Of these, Cheteshwar Pujara is the epitome of endurance, determination, and unwavering devotion to the game's longer format. Pujara, who is frequently called the modern-day "Wall" of Indian cricket, has distinguished himself with a career that is distinct in both style and content. Let’s take a look at five unique records created by Cheteshwar Pujara.

1. Only Indian batter to face 500+ balls in a Test innings

In March 2017, Pujara played one of the longest innings ever by an Indian batsman in the third Test match against Australia at Ranchi. He faced an incredible 525 deliveries while batting for over 11 hours, accumulating 202 runs.

Such innings are almost tough to duplicate in the era of fast-scoring batters and declining patience. Pujara was a unique batter because of his grit, particularly when facing more formidable opponents like Australia, against which he made this record. He is noteworthy for being the first and only Indian to face more than 500 deliveries in an innings in Test history.

2. Batting on All Five Days of a Test Match

In 2017, Pujara achieved yet another exceptional feat. The right-handed batter batted on every single day of the Kolkata Test match against Sri Lanka, which was marred by rain! Due to the rain, there wasn't much activity during the first two days, but he finished the two days undefeated with 8 and 47 runs.

Pujara fell for 52 on the third morning. Near the end of the fourth day, he returned to the crease and finished with an undefeated 2 runs total. On the fifth day, he returned, but he only scored 20 more runs. In a five-day Test match, Pujara became only the third Indian batsman to bat on each day.

3. Highest List A average among Indians (beating Virat Kohli!)

Pujara’s love affair with the red ball was beyond Test cricket. His healthy batting average in 50-overs cricket serves as an example of his ability to control the pace in Test matches and to manipulate the yards in List A cricket.

The only Asian batter to score more than 5000 runs in the format than Pujara, who has a 57.01 average for 5759 List-A runs, is Michael Bevan. It is still a little odd that Pujara was a branded red-ball player despite averaging as much as he did throughout 130 games, even if Kohli averages 56.81 with almost three times as many appearances.

4. Most runs in a season in a nation other than England

Outside of England, the traditional home of cricket, Pujara's sheer peaks as a First-Class player continue to represent a standard for season-long run totals. With 1316 Test runs at 62.66 in 13 games and a total of 2064 runs, including domestic responsibilities, he had an unchallenged run in India throughout the 2016–17 season. 

With his mountain of runs at 82.56 and seven hundreds, Pujara smashed a record that had been held by Chandu Borde (1604) for 52 years. This was the most in any country outside of England during an FC season.

5. Most Deliveries Before Scoring the First Run in an Innings For India

India went to play a three-match series in South Africa in 2018. Travelling to Johannesburg to play the third Test of the series after losing the previous two games, India chose to bat after winning the toss. For just 13 runs, the side lost the first two wickets.

Pujara and Kohli joined hands for a third-wicket partnership then. He became the Indian batter who faced the most deliveries before scoring a run in an innings after facing 53 deliveries prior to his first run. Before Pujara, Dravid scored his first run in a Test innings against Australia in 2007 after taking 40 deliveries.

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