Cheteshwar Pujara ended an era in Indian Test cricket by retiring. His batting always gave a feeling of stability and trust. His style was different from the early days; he believed in playing long innings instead of scoring fast runs. Pujara, who made his debut against Australia in 2010, scored 7195 runs in 103 Tests. His batting average was 43.60, which includes 19 centuries and 35 half-centuries.
Although the figures say a lot in themselves, his real impact is seen in the patience he showed on the field and his ability to withstand pressure. Whether it is scoring a century on the home pitch or standing firm for hours on foreign soil, Pujara always assured the team that giving up is not an option. His important contributions include an unbeaten 206 against England in Ahmedabad in 2012 and a memorable 92 against Australia in Bengaluru in 2017. His double centuries in Ranchi and Hyderabad became proof of his perseverance.
Indomitable spirit on foreign tours
Pujara's true stature came to the fore on foreign tours. During the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia in 2018-19, he played a key role in India's historic series win by scoring 521 runs. By staying at the crease for almost 11 hours in the Adelaide Test, he gave the message that there is no greater power than patience. His contribution of 56 runs in the Brisbane Test in 2021 is memorable, where he laid the foundation for India's victory while facing the onslaught of fast bowlers.
His batting taught generations that heights can be achieved even with the traditional style. Pujara showed time and again that with confidence and concentration, the toughest situations can be faced. The BCCI congratulated Pujara after he announced his retirement.
“Cheteshwar Pujara’s career is a shining example of perseverance and selflessness. He personified the spirit of Test cricket. His ability to grind opposition attacks and his immense powers of concentration made him the bulwark of India’s batting. He showed that it was possible to succeed at the highest level while staying true to traditional values of the game. His commitment to Indian cricket, both at the international and domestic level, has been outstanding. We thank him for everything he has given to the game and to the country.”
Pujara's career shows that cricket is not just a name for aggression, but patience and struggle also have their own importance. We think it will not be easy to fill his place because he was not just a run-scoring batsman but was the soul of the Indian Test team.
