Former Indian cricketer Mohammed Kaif has lauded Cheteshwar Pujara’s commitment, urging young players to learn from the seasoned batsman. Pujara’s stellar performance came in the Ranji Trophy where he scored an unbeaten double century of 243 for Saurashtra, leading to a declaration at an impressive 578 in Rajkot.

Despite being absent from the Indian Test team since the World Test Championship final against Australia last year, Pujara’s dedication to the game has shone through. With this recent double century, he has now notched up 17 first-class double centuries, placing him alongside England’s Herbert Sutcliffe and Mark Ramprakash. He stands just behind legends like Don Bradman, England’s Wally Hammond, and Patsy Hendren in this remarkable feat.

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Even though Pujara was initially omitted from the South Africa Test series, his exceptional performance has made a compelling case for his inclusion. Mohammed Kaif emphasized Pujara’s consistent run-scoring ability and his unwavering commitment, describing it as a valuable lesson for aspiring cricketers.

Regardless of what the national selectors think of him, Pujara keeps scoring runs. His commitment should be a lesson for all youngsters playing the game. #pujara pic.twitter.com/Py3cFlJJs5

— Mohammad Kaif (@MohammadKaif) January 8, 2024

The century in question has also elevated Pujara to the fourth-highest century-maker from India in first-class cricket, trailing only behind cricket greats Sachin Tendulkar, Sunil Gavaskar, and Rahul Dravid. Pujara’s commitment to first-class cricket was evident in his participation in the Ranji Trophy finals last year, where he played a pivotal role in guiding Saurashtra to victory.

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Pujara, having played several iconic innings in international cricket, including his 100th Test cap during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, boasts three first-class triple hundreds. His latest double century has positioned him as a strong contender for the upcoming five-Test series against England, commencing on January 25 in Hyderabad.

While Pujara’s last Test appearance was in the WTC Final against Australia in June, where India faced a defeat, his recent stellar performance indicates a resurgence, and cricket enthusiasts eagerly await his potential inclusion in the upcoming series against England.