Pujara scores second triple in a week

Cheteshwar Pujara, the Saurashtra captain, has scored his second triple-century in a week, notching up 309 against Mumbai in the Under-22 CK Nayudu Trophy in Rajkot. Last Monday, Pujara made 386 against Maharashtra at the same venue in the same tournament.

Saurashtra gained three points from their first-innings lead after Mumbai were bowled out for 473 in reply to their 754.

Pujara said he was "immensely satisfied" at scoring two triple-centuries. "I came in at No. 3 in both the matches and was happy to stay at the wicket for such long periods of time," he told the Times of India. While he spent eleven and a half hours at the crease against Maharashtra, he batted for nearly nine against Mumbai. "What makes me happy is that in both the cases, I batted for two days at a stretch."

Pujara has been picked for the Challenger Trophy, featuring national players and those on the fringes, starting on Saturday. His two mammoth scores come ahead of the two Tests and seven ODIs against England. "I think I'm comfortable in both forms of the game. The Challengers will be a great platform for me to show my one-day skills."

Debu Mitra, the Saurashtra coach, said it was Pujara's solid defence that made him such a good player. "If you have a good defence, you've won half the battle," Mitra said. "This boy has a sound defensive technique and enormous powers of concentration."

But while he is happy to have his technique compared to Rahul Dravid, also known for his impenetrable defence, Pujara said it wasn't for him to decide whether he would replace Dravid in the Indian team. "Dravid is a great player and I am a huge of fan of his, just as I follow Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly and Ricky Ponting. I pray for half an hour every day and that helps me in my batting."

Kris Srikkanth, the BCCI's chairman of selectors, said Pujara will be watched keenly during the Challengers. "Scoring two triple-hundreds in any form of cricket is a great achievement," Srikkanth said. "I have seen him bat in the Test against New Zealand A and the guy looks extremely talented."