London: Cheteshwar Pujara emulated a feat of one of the most celebrated Indian batsmen of all time in scoring a double century for Sussex against Middlesex at Lord’s on Wednesday.
The last Sussex batsman to post a double century at the Home of Cricket was India opener Pujara’s compatriot, Colonel Shri Sir Ranjitsinhji Vibhaji II.
KS Ranjitsinji, or ‘Ranji’ as he was popularly known, scored his double hundred in a match against the MCC 125 years ago.
Pujara’s 231 was his third double century of the season.
An innings that started on Tuesday during London’s hottest day on record saw the 34-year-old Pujara occupy the crease with sparkling form for nearly nine hours before he was last man out having guided the visitors to 523 – a total that surpassed Sussex’s previous highest score at Lord’s of 522 set in 2005.
Ranji, the ruler of the Indian princely state of Nawanagar from 1907 to 1933, has long been regarded as one of cricket’s most stylish batsmen and is widely credited with inventing the leg-glance.
Educated at Cambridge University, he played 15 Tests for England from 1896-1902, with India not becoming a Test nation in its own right until 1932 – just a year before Ranji’s death aged 60.

Bracewell snares hat-trick in first T20 international over
Michael Bracewell has continued the remarkable start to his short format career for New Zealand with a hat-trick in his maiden over in Twenty20 international cricket.
The all-rounder did not even get to complete the over as wickets with his third, fourth and fifth deliveries dismissed Ireland to give the tourists an 88-run victory in Belfast on Wednesday.
Off-spinner Bracewell became only the 35th bowler, and third New Zealander after Jacob Oram and Tim Southee, to take wickets with three consecutive balls in international T20s.
“I love cricket and I don’t think that’s ever been done before in with your first over in T20 international cricket, taking a hat-trick,” said teammate Ish Sodhi. “If it has, I don’t think it will be done again. It was great to see and, as a way to finish the match, it was fantastic. There’s not much the man can’t do at the moment.”
The 31-year-old Bracewell, cousin of Black Caps seamer Doug and nephew of former internationals Brendon and John, has made his New Zealand debut in all three formats this year. He notched a century in his third one-day international innings two weeks ago against Ireland in Dublin, smashing two sixes and three fours in the final over to drive New Zealand past their victory target of 301, again with a ball to spare.