India’s No. 3 Colossus: Cheteshwar Pujara’s Batting Legacy in Numbers

India’s No. 3 Colossus: Cheteshwar Pujara’s Batting Legacy in Numbers

Cheteshwar Pujara’s name has long been synonymous with grit, resilience, and an old-school batting ethic. As India’s modern-day Test stalwart at No. 3, Pujara’s body of work across formats and continents places him firmly among India’s greatest batters. Here's a deep dive into the staggering numbers that define his illustrious professional career.

A Pillar at No. 3

  • 6529 of Pujara’s 7195 Test runs came while batting at No. 3 — a position where only Rahul Dravid has scored more for India (10,524 runs).

  • Pujara's 18 centuries at one-drop put him in elite company globally, alongside Kumar Sangakkara, Ricky Ponting, Kane Williamson, and Hashim Amla — the only other batters with over 6000 Test runs at No. 3.

The Elite 7000 Club

With 7195 Test runs, Pujara is among just eight Indian batters to have crossed the 7000-run mark, joining the ranks of:

  • Sachin Tendulkar (15,921)

  • Rahul Dravid (13,265)

  • Sunil Gavaskar (10,122)

  • Virat Kohli (9230)

  • VVS Laxman (8781)

  • Virender Sehwag (8503)

  • Sourav Ganguly (7212)

He is also among 14 Indian cricketers to have played over 100 Tests, with 103 appearances.

Early Milestone, Long Journey

Pujara needed just 18 innings to reach 1000 Test runs — the third-fastest for India after Vinod Kambli (14) and Yashasvi Jaiswal (16).

Overseas Warrior

Pujara played a key role in India’s rise overseas, especially in SENA countries (South Africa, England, New Zealand, Australia). He featured in 11 Test wins in these regions — the most by any Indian player. Highlights include:

  • Centuries in Adelaide and Melbourne (2018-19)

  • Gritty half-centuries in Johannesburg (2018) and Brisbane (2020-21)

Record-Breaking Resilience

  • 525 balls: The most faced by an Indian in a single Test innings — during his 202 against Australia in Ranchi (2017).

  • Only three other batters have faced 500+ balls in a Test innings against Australia: Wally Hammond, Len Hutton, and Ken Barrington.

Most Balls Faced by Indians in a Test Innings:

Player Runs Balls Opposition Venue, Year
Cheteshwar Pujara 202 525 Australia Ranchi, 2017
Rahul Dravid 270 495 Pakistan Rawalpindi, 2004
Navjot Singh Sidhu 201 491 West Indies Port of Spain, 1997

Marathon Man of Series

  • 1258 balls faced by Pujara in the 2018/19 Border-Gavaskar Trophy, second only to Dravid’s 1336 in England (2002).

  • These two are also the only Indian No. 3s to score three or more hundreds in a single Test series.

Carrying the Bat

Pujara is the most recent Indian to carry his bat through a completed innings — an unbeaten 145* against Sri Lanka at the SSC, Colombo (2015). He joins the elite list alongside Sunil Gavaskar, Virender Sehwag, and Rahul Dravid.

Batting Across All Five Days

Pujara is one of only three Indians to bat on all five days of a Test, achieving the feat against Sri Lanka in Kolkata (2017). The others:

  • ML Jaisimha vs Australia (1960)

  • Ravi Shastri vs England (1984)

Only 13 batters have ever done this in Test history.

A Rivalry to Remember

  • Faced 1296 deliveries from Nathan Lyon in Tests — the most against any bowler in his career.

  • Lyon dismissed him 13 times, more than any other bowler, though Pujara averaged a solid 43.92 in the matchup.

Most Balls Faced vs a Bowler (Since 2000):

Player Bowler Balls Dismissals Average
Joe Root Ravindra Jadeja 1308 9 66.88
Cheteshwar Pujara Nathan Lyon 1296 13 43.92

First-Class Dominance

Pujara's consistency shines beyond Tests:

  • 21,301 runs in 278 first-class matches at 51.82 average

  • 66 centuries — fourth-most by an Indian after Gavaskar, Tendulkar, and Dravid

  • 18 double centuries, behind only Bradman (37), Hammond (36) and Hendren (22)

  • Three triple centuries — joint-most for an Indian alongside Ravindra Jadeja

For Saurashtra, he has been the rock:

  • Played in five Ranji Trophy finals, winning in 2019/20 and 2022/23

  • Holds the record for most runs (7774) and hundreds (25) for the state

Cheteshwar Pujara’s numbers tell the tale of a throwback batter in a modern world — one who made bowlers toil, prized his wicket, and remained the fulcrum of India’s Test batting for more than a decade. His career is a testament to endurance, technique, and a timeless hunger for runs.