Stats: Fastest Indians to 12 centuries in Test cricket

Cheteshwar Pujara continued from where he left in the 2016/17 season at home as he remained unbeaten on 144 at end of the day 1 against Sri Lanka in the first of the 3-match Test series at the Galle. Pujara played a crucial role in helping India post a huge total of 399/3 on day 1 as Shikhar Dhawan dominated the Sri Lankan bowlers for the first two sessions.

Pujara scored his runs with a decent strike rate of 58.2; 10 more than his career S/R of 48. He took 247 balls for his 144-run knock which was his 12th Test century. Thus Pujara became the 12th Indian to score 12 and more centuries in Test cricket. Overall, 102 players have scored 12 and more Test hundreds before Pujara.

This was the 29-year-old’s 40th century in first-class cricket and his 50th in professional cricket adding up the 10 tons he has scored in List A format. Among the 12 Indians with 12 and more Test tons, Pujara is the 6th fastest having taken 82 innings to score his 12th Test hundred. He is only the 4th Indian to hold 12 and more hundreds before playing the 50th Test of his career.

Sunil Gavaskar was the quickest to score the 12th Test century among Indians as he struck the Test century No.12 in his 34th Test match and 66th inning. Pujara got there in the 49th Test and the first innings vs Sri Lanka at Galle was his 82nd Test inning of his career. VVS Laxman was the slowest among the 12 Indians to his 12th Test century as he scored it in the 88th Test match and 143rd innings; one more than Dilip Vengsarkar.

Indians who scored 12 and more centuries in Test cricket:

(Note: Numbers include V Sehwag’s Test match for ICC World XI)

(Stats as on July 26, 2017)