Cheteshwar Pujara on Monday became only the 11th Indian to cross the 6000-run mark in Test cricket. Pujara, playing his 80th game, reached the milestone on day five of the third Test against Australia at the SCG.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) was quick to congratulate him on social media.
“Cheteshwar Pujara has become the 11th Indian batsman to reach 6000 runs in Test cricket! What a fine player he has been,” the ICC wrote.
The other Indians who have 6000 plus runs are Sachin Tendulkar (15921) runs, Rahul Dravid (13265), Sunil Gavaskar (10122), VVS Laxman (8781), Virender Sehwag (8503), Virat Kohli (7318), Sourav Ganguly (7212), Dilip Vengsarkar (6868), Mohammad Azharuddin (6215), Gundappa Viswanath (6080).
On Day 5 of the third Test match, India had a poor start to the day as stand-in captain Ajinkya Rahane was trapped in front of the wicket by Nathan Lyon. As Australia got themselves in the driver’s seat as a result of the early breakthrough, Pujara and Rishabh Pant stitched a magnificent 148-run stand for the fourth wicket to bring India back in the game.
Pant, who stunned the hosts with a sensational counter-attack, fell just three runs short of a ton. Soon after Pant’s departure, Pujara also perished as he was clean bowled by Josh Hazlewood.
