NEW DELHI: Indian batsman
Cheteshwar Pujara on Thursday notched up his career’s 17th Test century during the second day of the third Test against Australia at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). With this century, Pujara has surpassed former India captain
Sourav Ganguly who has 16 Test centuries to his name.
Pujara played a superb drive off Australian spinner
Nathan Lyon towards the long on for a boundary to bring up his 17th Test ton.
With 17 centuries under his belt, Pujara has now also equalled former India cricketer
VVS Laxman’s tally of 17 Test centuries. Laxman played 225 innings for his 17 centuries. Pujara has so far played 112 Test innings.
Ganguly scored 16 centuries in 188 Test innings.
The Saurashtra batsman took 280 balls to reach the triple-figure mark. He scored 106 off 319 balls before being dismissed by Pat Cummins. He forged a magnificent 170-run stand with captain Virat Kohli for the third wicket.
With this century, Pujara also became the fifth Indian batsmen to score a century in the
Boxing Day Test
at the MCG.
Sachin Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag, Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane are the other four Indian batsmen who have Boxing Day Test centuries at the MCG under their belt.
Boxing Day Test 100s for India at the MCG:| PLAYER | SCORE | YEAR |
| Sachin Tendulkar | 116 | 1999 |
| Virender Sehwag | 195 | 2003 |
| Virat Kohli | 169 | 2014 |
| Ajinkya Rahane | 147 | 2014 |
| Cheteshwar Pujara | 106 | 2018 |