In a grand felicitation ceremony held at the Niranjan Shah Stadium in Rajkot on the eve of the 3rd IND vs ENG Test of the ongoing five-match Test series between India and England, veteran batsman Cheteshwar Pujara was honoured for his substantial contributions to the sport spanning over more than a decade. The ceremony, hosted by the Saurashtra Cricket Association, also seized the occasion to rename their stadium after the esteemed veteran administrator, Niranjan Shah.

Pujara, who boasts a remarkable record of representing India in 103 Test matches, achieving 19 hundreds and 35 fifties, conveyed heartfelt appreciation for the recognition bestowed upon him. Notably, the ceremony was not exclusively dedicated to Pujara; his teammate Ravindra Jadeja also received well-deserved accolades. 

In a message filled with gratitude, he acknowledged the support extended by the Saurashtra Cricket Association and Jay Shah, the BCCI secretary. Pujara expressed his honour at being celebrated at a venue that pays homage to the rich legacy of cricket.

“Overwhelmed with gratitude. Thankful to @saucricket and @JayShah for the felicitation. It’s an honour to mark this occasion at the Niranjan Shah Stadium, a place that stands as a tribute to the rich heritage of our wonderful game. Thanks to my teammates, coaches, and fans who’ve been a part of this journey so far, and I look forward to continue contributing to my country,” Pujara wrote in a post on X (formerly Twitter).

Here’s Pujara’s Post On X:

Overwhelmed with gratitude. Thankful to @saucricket and @JayShah for the felicitation. It’s an honour to mark this occasion at the Niranjan Shah Stadium, a place that stands as a tribute to the rich heritage of our wonderful game.

Thanks to my teammates, coaches, and fans who’ve… pic.twitter.com/i7Am8Zv42q

— Cheteshwar Pujara (@cheteshwar1) February 15, 2024

Summary Of IND vs ENG 3rd Test, Day 1

Coming to the ongoing IND vs ENG 3rd Test, India encountered a challenging start to their innings after opting to bat, finding themselves at 33-3 in 9 overs. However, Indian skipper Rohit Sharma played a crucial role in getting the Indian innings back on track, establishing a partnership with Ravindra Jadeja. Sharma exhibited an impressive performance, achieving a fine century with 131 runs. Sarfaraz Khan, coming in at number four, aggressively took on the England bowlers from the beginning, reaching his fifty in just 47 balls. But he was unfortunately dismissed after being run-out owing to a wrong call from Jadeja. Jadeja also made a substantial contribution, scoring an unbeaten century with 110 runs. At the end of Day 1 of the IND vs ENG 3rd Test, India stands at 326-5 after 96 overs.