The senior India Test regular, Pujara – who wasn’t picked up by any IPL franchise at the auction ahead of the 2023 season – went to the UK to participate in the County Championship.
Leading Sussex from the front, the right-handed batter notched up a fine century off 134 balls on day two of the match. Pujara smashed consecutive boundaries against Brydon Carse to get to the triple-figure mark.
Pujara walked into the middle when his team was in a precarious situation. The scoreboard read 44 for 2 and rescued his team with a 112-run stand with Tom Clark.
The Saurashtra cricketer was dismissed for 115 after facing 163 deliveries when he was trapped leg before by medium pacer Ben Raine.
It was the partnership between Pujara and Clark which helped Sussex cut short Durham’s lead. Durham were bowled out for 376 in the first innings and in response, Sussex reached 332/9 at stumps on Day 2 in 91 overs.
Matthew Potts (2/48), Ben Raine (2/32) and Matthew Kuhnemann (2/77) picked up a couple of wickets each for Durham. Kuhnemann – who played a big role in Australia’s nine-wicket win against India in the third Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Indore – signed for Durham last week.
The left-arm orthodox-spinner picked up 5/16 in the first innings as the Rohit Sharma-led side, which also had Pujara, were bundled out for 109 on the opening day.
Pujara Warms Up Ahead of WTC Final
Pujara’s good form and experience of batting in English conditions in the coming days will hold him in good stead ahead of the highly anticipated World Test Championships 2021-23 Final between India and Australia.
The WTC Final will be held at The Oval in London on June 7. Australia finished as the number one ranked team in the WTC 2021-23 Cycle while India came second after winning the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2-1 at home in March.
Pujara – who slammed five tons and amassed 1094 runs – was the fourth-highest run scorer in the County Championship last year. He played eight first-class matches for Sussex last year.
Cheteshwar Pujara’s Performance in 2022 County Championship Season
Match 1: 6 & 201* vs Derby
Match 2: 109 & 12 vs Worcester
Match 3: 203 vs Durham
Match 4: 16 & 170* vs Middlesex
Match 5: 3 vs Leicestershire
Match 6: 46 vs Leicestershire
Match 7: 231 & 2 vs Middlesex
Match 8: 49 & 46*
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