Cheteshwar Pujara brought up his 18th Test century and third of the series with a four off Mitchell Starc on day one of the fourth Test against Australia at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Thursday. With 428 runs under his belt so far, Pujara is the highest-run scorer of the ongoing four-match series. The century in Sydney is also Pujara’s fifth in Tests against Australia. This is the first time Pujara has scored more than one centuries in an overseas Test series.

With this century, Pujara has surpassed former India batsman VVS Laxman, who has 17 Test centuries to his name.

Pujara, who celebrated his century with a fist pump, also joined an elite list of Indian batsman to have played more than 1000 balls in a Test series against Australia on their home soil.

India’s number three has been by far the best batsman from either side across the series against Australia.

It was another innings of patience and concentration, with the 30-year-old reaching three figures in 199 balls with 13 fours.

The landmark was his 18th century in his 68th Test and follows a stellar 123 in the first Test in Adelaide and 106 in the third Test at Melbourne.

Pujara came to the crease when opener KL Rahul was out for nine and, as he has done all series, quickly dug in.

He survived a review decision for caught behind on 12 but was otherwise unmovable.

The experienced right-hander tends not to play much white ball cricket and has credited the extra time he has to prepare for Tests as key to his performances.