Carrying the bat and copping blows: The best knocks of India legend Cheteshwar Pujara
Bold and durable: The best of India legend Cheteshwar Pujara.
Atreyo Mukhopadhyay
August 24, 2025 / 15:37 IST
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Top knocks of Cheteshwar Pujara
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Selecting a few knocks as special from a batter who made 19 centuries and 35 fifties in 103 Tests is a challenging task. However, here is our top-five Cheteshwar Pujara knocks in chronological order. (Photo: BCCI)
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72 vs Australia, Bengaluru, 2010: It was his debut Test. India were chasing 207 to win and lost Virender Sehwag early. In walked Pujara at No. 3 and stroked a polished knock off 82 balls that helped India ease to victory. He was at No. 5 in the first innings. That the debutant was asked to bat ahead of Rahul Dravid in a chase indicated what the team thought of him so early in his career. (Photo: BCCI)
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153 vs South Africa, Johannesburg, 2015: It was India’s first Test abroad after Sachin Tendulkar’s retirement. The inexperienced batting line-up defied expectations against a potent attack. Virat Kohli led the way, but Pujara’s first century abroad against Dale Steyn, Vernon Philander and Morne Morkel drew no less attention. (Photo: BCCI)
145 no vs Sri Lanka, Colombo SSC, 2013: He scored centuries against better attacks, but this was special. He was asked to open the innings. Pujara had done that earlier and didn’t fare badly. This time, he remained not out in a completed innings to achieve the rare distinction of carrying the bat through the innings. He became and remains the fourth Indian to achieve the feat. In his long career, Pujara opened in just six Tests. (Photo: ICC)
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123 vs Australia, Adelaide, 2018: This was a tough series and Pujara’s best overseas outing. This knock in a first-innings total of 250 in the first Test was a sign of what to come. He made 71 in the second knock, India won this tense and low-scoring game and went to post their first-ever Test series win in Australia. He played unconventional shots that he had prepared for keeping in mind this challenge. He scored two more centuries in the series. (Photo: ICC)
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77 vs Australia, Sydney, 2021: It’s the Test remembered for R Ashwin and Hanuma Vihari’s heroics that earned India a draw. India had to survive a day-and-a-half against a hostile attack. Pujara probably took the most body blows that he ever has during his 205-ball vigil. There were other contributions as well, but this innings was the bedrock of India’s resistance. It kept them in the series and they won an epic in Brisbane to complete a famous win. Pujara played his part in that last game too. (Photo: ICC)
