Cheteshwar Pujara vs Sourav Ganguly – Statistical Comparison After 103 Test Matches

Cheteshwar Pujara, one of India’s most dependable batters, officially announced his retirement from all formats of Indian cricket on Sunday, August 24. He made the decision public through social media, marking the end of a celebrated career.

Pujara last represented India in the 2023 World Test Championship final against Australia at The Oval. Since then, he had been away from the Test setup, watching younger players take up key roles in the batting lineup.

His exclusion from the squad for the five-match Test series in England was seen as a strong indication of the transition. Accepting the reality, Pujara decided to step aside, leaving behind an inspiring legacy built on resilience, patience, and consistency in red-ball cricket.

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Cheteshwar Pujara vs Sourav Ganguly: A Statistical Showdown:

Cheteshwar Pujara made his Test debut against Australia in Bengaluru in October 2010 and immediately left his mark with a composed 72 off 89 balls in the second innings, helping India secure a seven-wicket victory. After Rahul Dravid’s retirement in 2012, Pujara seamlessly stepped into the crucial No. 3 role in India’s batting order.

One of his finest moments came during the 2018-19 series in Australia, where he scored an impressive 521 runs in four Tests, playing a vital role in India’s historic first-ever series win Down Under. He again proved his value in the 2020-21 series against Australia, absorbing immense pressure and standing firm as a key contributor to another memorable Indian triumph overseas.

Pujara wrapped up his illustrious journey after playing 103 Test matches for India. With his retirement, it becomes interesting to draw a comparison between his numbers and those of former Indian captain Sourav Ganguly, who had reached the same milestone during his cricketing career.

• Cheteshwar Pujara vs Sourav Ganguly – Who Leads in Runs After 103 Tests?

Cheteshwar Pujara finished his career with 7,195 runs in 103 Test matches at an average of 43.60. Against Australia, he enjoyed tremendous success, scoring 2,074 runs in 25 matches at an impressive average of 49.38. He also performed strongly against England, accumulating 1,778 runs in 27 Tests at 39.51.

The veteran batter added 867 runs from 12 Tests against New Zealand at 39.40 and scored 882 runs in 17 appearances versus South Africa at 30.41. Pujara’s most dominant run came against Sri Lanka, where he notched up 743 runs in just seven matches, averaging a remarkable 74.30.

At the 103-Test mark, Sourav Ganguly had scored 6,581 runs at an average of 42.45. Against Australia, he managed 1,079 runs in 20 matches at 31.73. His best numbers came versus England, where he amassed 983 runs in 12 Tests at an excellent average of 57.82. He also scored 968 runs against Sri Lanka in 11 matches at 56.94.

Ganguly’s record included 902 runs in 12 Tests against Pakistan at 47.47 and 736 runs in 14 matches versus South Africa, averaging 30.66. Additionally, he registered 563 runs from eight Tests against New Zealand, averaging a solid 46.91 with the bat.

• Cheteshwar Pujara vs Sourav Ganguly – Who Has More Centuries After 103 Tests?

Cheteshwar Pujara had a highly successful Test career, registering 19 centuries along with 35 fifties. He proved his consistency against top teams, scoring five centuries each against Australia and England. He also dominated Sri Lanka with four hundreds to his name, showcasing his ability to perform across conditions.

In addition, Pujara recorded two centuries against New Zealand and one each versus South Africa, West Indies, and Bangladesh. His finest Test knock came in 2012 at Ahmedabad, where he remained unbeaten on 206 against England. This innings highlighted not only his patience and grit but also his ability to anchor long partnerships.

At the 103-Test mark, Sourav Ganguly had scored 15 centuries and 32 fifties, with his highest being 239 against Pakistan in Bengaluru in December 2007. Out of his 15 tons, three each were struck against England, New Zealand, and Sri Lanka. He also recorded two centuries apiece versus Pakistan and Zimbabwe, while adding one each against Australia and Bangladesh to his tally.

• Cheteshwar Pujara vs Sourav Ganguly – Whose SENA record shines brighter after 103 Tests?

Cheteshwar Pujara featured in 41 Test matches across SENA countries, where he accumulated 2,558 runs at an average of 32.79. During this phase, he registered five centuries and 14 fifties, with his highest score of 193 coming at the Sydney Test in 2019, a memorable knock that highlighted his resilience.

Breaking down his SENA record, Pujara was most successful in Australia, averaging 47.28 in 11 Tests, where he struck three centuries. In England, he managed 29 runs per innings from 16 matches, while in South Africa, he averaged 28.15 in 10 games, including one century. His least returns came in New Zealand, averaging 20 across four Tests.

After 103 Tests, Sourav Ganguly had played 32 matches in SENA nations, amassing 2,311 runs from 59 innings at an average of 42.01, showcasing his consistency in challenging conditions. He registered five centuries and 13 half-centuries during this phase, with his highest score of 144 coming in the Brisbane Test of 2003, a memorable knock against Australia.

Looking at his performances individually, Ganguly averaged 34.80 in 11 Tests played in Australia and an impressive 65.35 from nine matches in England, where he struck three centuries. In New Zealand, he scored at an average of 27.71 across four games, including a hundred, while in South Africa, he averaged 36.14 over eight Tests. 

• Cheteshwar Pujara vs Sourav Ganguly – Who Contributed More to Wins After 103 Tests?

Cheteshwar Pujara proved to be a strong performer whenever India secured victories. Out of his 103 Tests, he played in 58 wins, contributing 4,408 runs from 96 innings at an excellent average of 50.66. In these winning causes, the dependable batter struck 13 centuries and 23 half-centuries. Interestingly, two of his tons came in defeats while four were scored in drawn games.

On the other hand, Sourav Ganguly’s impact in victories was relatively smaller. After 103 Tests, he featured in 33 wins, scoring 1,954 runs from 50 innings at an average of 46.52. He registered three centuries and 12 fifties in winning causes. Notably, 12 of his 15 Test hundreds at that stage came in drawn encounters.