New Delhi: Cheteshwar Pujara was presented with a special cap to commemorate his 100th Test match at New Delhi on Friday. The Indian batter was handed the cap which had ‘100’ written on it by legendary India cricketer Sunil Gavaskar at the Arun Jaitley Stadium.
Pujara, 35, was also presented with plaques by BCCI secretary Jay Shah and Delhi & District Cricket Association (DDCA) president Rohan Jaitley ahead of the second Test between India and Australia.
Gavaskar later said he hoped Pujara would become the first Indian to score a century in his 100th Test, adding that the veteran batter has been a role model for “hard work and self-belief”.
“Welcome to the 100th Test club, and I wish and pray you that you become the first Indian to score a big hundred in your 100th Test and lay the foundation for yet another win in Delhi,” said Gavaskar.
Pujara is the 13th Indian player to reach the 100 matches milestone in Tests. Others on this list are Sachin Tendulkar (200), Rahul Dravid (163), VVS Laxman (134), Anil Kumble (132), Kapil Dev (131), Sunil Gavaskar (125), Dilip Vengsarkar (116), Sourav Ganguly (113), Virat Kohli (106*), Ishant Sharma (105), Harbhajan Singh (103), Virendra Sehwag (103).
Gavaskar, a former India skipper, lauded Pujara for putting his “body on the line for India.”
“When you go out to bat, it’s as if you’re taking the India flag with you. You’ve put your body on the line for India.
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“You’ve taken the blows, you got up, and you made bowlers earn your wicket. Every single run you scored is a big plus for India. You’ve been a role model for what hard work, self-belief, and dreams can do.”
Pujara made his Test debut against Australia in Bengaluru in 2010 where he scored 4 and 72 runs in a winning effort. He took over Rahul Dravid’s spot in the Test lineup after ‘The Wall’s’ retirement.
BCCI secretary Jay Shah and Cheteshwar Pujara during the 2nd test match between India vs Australia at the Arun Jaitley Stadium. SPORTZPICS for BCCI
“Legends like you have inspired me. As a young cricketer, I always dreamt of playing for India, but I never thought I’d be playing 100 Test matches for India,” Pujara said.
“I believe Test cricket is the ultimate form of the game and it tests your temperament; there are so many similarities between life and Test cricket.
“If you can fight through the tough periods, you always come out on top. I feel really proud and to all the youngsters out there, I encourage you to work hard and strive to play for India.
DDCA president Rohan Jaitley and Cheteshwar Pujara ahead of second India vs Australia Test in Delhi. SPORTZPICS for BCCI
“Thanks to my family and friends for their support. Thanks to the BCCI, media, and my team-mates and support staff.”
Pujara has scored 7,021 runs in 99 Tests for the Indian cricket team, averaging 44.15 runs per game with 19 hundreds and 34 fifties with a best of 206 not out against England at Ahmedabad in 2012.
The Saurashtra batter sits seventh in India’s all-time list of players with most hundreds – only behind Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, Sunil Gavaskar, Virat Kohli, Virender Sehwag, Mohammad Azharuddin.
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