It is always going to be a mighty task to replace a legendary player like Rahul Dravid in Test cricket. He has been the pillar of the Indian batting order against various opponents for over a decade and must be the hardest to replace. But that was where Cheteshwar Pujara came into the play. The Saurashtra batsman, making his debut in 2010, has been part of the Indian Test top order for over a decade now.
Pujara’s first major innings came against New Zealand in 2012, when he scored a mighty 159, walking in at No. 3. It was the year when Dravid bid goodbye to International cricket. The newcomer carried on his form to score a double-century and another century knock in the same year. Since then, he has been consistent and phenomenal for India in whites.
This article will see Cheteshwar Pujara’s year-wise batting performances in Test cricket.
Cheteshwar Pujara Test Runs Year by Year
YEAR | RUNS | INNINGS | AVERAGE | BEST | 100s/50s |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2010 | 105 | 4 | 26.25 | 72 | 0/1 |
2011 | 2 | 1 | 2.00 | 2 | 0/0 |
2012 | 654 | 10 | 81.75 | 206* | 3/0 |
2013 | 829 | 13 | 75.36 | 204 | 3/3 |
2014 | 483 | 20 | 24.15 | 73 | 0/2 |
2015 | 347 | 8 | 49.57 | 145* | 1/1 |
2016 | 836 | 16 | 55.73 | 124 | 3/4 |
2017 | 1140 | 18 | 67.06 | 202 | 4/5 |
2018 | 837 | 23 | 38.05 | 132* | 3/4 |
2019 | 507 | 11 | 46.09 | 193 | 1/4 |
2020 | 163 | 8 | 20.38 | 54 | 0/1 |
2021 | 702 | 26 | 28.08 | 91 | 0/6 |
2022 | 409 | 10 | 45.44 | 102* | 1/3 |
2023 | 181 | 8 | 25.85 | 59 | 0/1 |
OVERALL | 7195 | 176 | 43.60 | 206* | 19/35 |
Key Stats
Pujara’s highest Test score of 206* came against England in 2012 at Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad.
Pujara holds the Indian record for batting the most number of balls in a Test innings. Check more about the stat here.
The year 2017 was the most successful year of the Indian right-hander as he scored 1140 runs in that calendar year, hitting 4 centuries and 5 fifties, with the highest score of 202 against Australia.
It was the only 1000+ runs calendar year for Pujara, whereas he has crossed 800 in three other years in his Test career.
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