Cheteshwar Pujara 202 against Australia in Ranchi
When Cheteshwar Pujara made his Test debut for India in 2010, he was anointed as the next Rahul Dravid. Armed with a solid technique and patience similar to Dravid, Pujara was slated to be the next big thing in India’s batting lineup. Coming to bat at number three in test cricket, he always held the Indian innings together. In 2017, one of Pujara best innings came against Australia in Ranchi. He scored 202 runs in 525 balls with 20 fours and one six. He remained at the crease for 625 minutes, which is one of the longest innings by an Indian batsman. In another Test against Sri Lanka, at Eden Gardens, he managed to bat on all five days. Altogether, he spent 55 hours at the crease in Test cricket this year.
Rohit Sharma, who recently became the only batsman in the world to score three One-day International (ODI) double-centuries, has created an unparalleled niche for himself in that format. In the recently concluded T-20 series against Sri Lanka, Rohit Sharma equalled the record for the fastest T20 international century, scoring the ton in just 35 balls at the Holkar stadium in Indore. His score of 118 is also the highest by any Indian in T20 internationals. He also became the fifth player to score two centuries, the most in T20 Internationals. Chris Gayle, Colin Munro, Evin Lewis, and Brendon McCullum are the other four batsmen to score two centuries each. Also, Rohit Sharma hit 65 sixes, most by any batsman in a calendar year. The record was previously held by AB de Villiers, who had hit 63 sixes in 2015 playing for South Africa.
Virat Kohli celebrates double century against Sri Lanka during the Second day of the third cricket test match at Feroz Shah Kotla, in New Delhi on Sunday. Photo: PTI
Virat Kohli has been in unstoppable form over the last three years and captaincy only seems to have added to his steely determination to succeed. Starting the year with a double century against Bangladesh, Kohli only scored only 46 runs in six innings against Australia. But Virat ended the year 2017 on a high, scoring two double centuries against Sri Lanka. Kohli's career-best 243 runs at Ferozeshah Kotla ground in Delhi, was his sixth double century, surpassing Brian Lara’s five as captain. Kohli faced only 287 balls for his 243, and scored the runs at a strike rate of 84.66, hitting 25 fours. India No 4 drew level with Virender Sehwag and Sachin Tendulkar for most 200 or more scores in test cricket.
Hardik Pandya raced to his maiden international century off 86 balls. Photo: PTI
Hardik Pandya had a great 2017, as he was consistent with both the bat and ball. In the three tests he played, Pandya has scored 178 runs at an average of 59. And in the 32 ODIs, he has 602 runs, to go with 35 wickets. Pandya scored his first test century against Sri Lanka in Pallekele in 86 balls at a crucial time. During his 108-run knock, Pandya broke many records. He smashed Malinda Pushpakumara for record 26 runs, registering the most runs scored by an Indian batsman in an over in Test cricket. Pandya also etched his name in the record books by hitting as many as seven sixes — only behind Navjot Singh Sidhu’s eight — in a Test inning.
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