Cheteshwar Pujara set to play his 100th test in Delhi

Cheteshwar Pujara will join an elite list of Indian cricketers when they take on the second Test against Australia in Delhi on February 17. Cheteshwar Pujara becomes the 13th Indian cricketer to play 100 Test matches. Ironically, this milestone is to be achieved against Australia, an opposition he has often pulverized in the past. Pujara will become only the second cricketer in the current squad to play 100 Tests. Virat Kohli played his 100th match against Sri Lanka in Mohali in March 2022.

Incidentally, Pujara made his Test debut against Australia in 2010 in Bengaluru and immediately informed what was to come in the next decade. In the second innings of his Test debut, Pujara was promoted to No.3 ahead of Rahul Dravid and scored a fluent 72 as India chased down 207 to win the series 2–0.

Since his breathtaking debut, Cheteshwar Pujara has played 20 more Test matches against Australia and today boasts an excellent record against India's fiercest opponents in the Test arena. In 21 matches against Australia, Pujara has 1900 runs at an average of 52.77 including 5 hundreds and 10 fifties. Overall, Cheteshwar Pujara has an excellent record in 99 Tests, scoring 7021 runs at 44.15 with the help of 19 centuries and 34 half-centuries.

Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane were dropped from the team after India lost the Test series in South Africa despite taking a 1-0 lead. Since his return to the side, Cheteshwar Pujara has shown more intent. Cheteshwar Pujara will be a key player as India look to continue their dominance over Australia and the team will be hoping for a special effort from their No.3 in his breakthrough match.