Stats: Cheteshwar Pujara becomes the fastest batsman to score 3000 Test runs in India

Indian batsman Cheteshwar Pujara became the fastest cricketer to reach 3000 run mark in Test cricket at home on Sunday. He reached the milestone in his 32nd Test match and during his 53rd innings in the ongoing match against Sri Lanka. Sachin Tendulkar who was previously the holder of the record had achieved the feat in 53 innings. However, the stellar home season for the new wall of India continues who seems to have owned the number 3 slot after the retirement of Rahul Dravid.

The 29-year-old played a fine knock in the second Test match and has already created a record of batting on all eight days of the series so far. He had to come out to bat late on the first day after KL Rahul was dismissed early and carried on the whole of the second day by grinding the Sri Lankan bowlers. He stitched a partnership of 209 runs for the second wicket and took India ahead of the opposition total.

He also brought up his 14th hundred in the longest format in the process and crossed the milestone of 3000 runs in India when he was on 129 on the third morning of the Test match. Pujara missed out on his 150 as he was castled by Dasun Shanaka on 143 at the stroke of lunch. India led by 199 runs with the score reading 404/3 with Virat Kohli going strong at 123 and Ajinkya Rahane had just joined him.

Pujara in the league of legends

Cheteshwar Pujara entered into the league of the Indian legends to score more than 3000 Test runs at home. He became the fastest to reach to the feat and beat some of the greats in the history of Indian cricket. Apart from Sachin Tendulkar, the list includes the likes of Rahul Dravid, Sourav Ganguly, VVS Laxman and Virender Sehwag among others. Mohammad Azharuddin is the third fastest now in the list who had done it in 56 innings.

Here’s the list of players fastest to 3000 Test runs in India