103 Tests, 7195 runs, gritty Cheteshwar Pujara says goodbye
In what is turning out to be a year of retirements in Indian Test cricket, durable Cheteshwar Pujara has also decided to say goodbye to all formats of the game. At 37, Pujara, who emerged as a boy from Rajkot and then held centre-stage so often with the legends in the middle order with Ajinkya Rahane also as a well-known companion, has timed his departure well.
For those who will relate Pujara walking into sunset to a spate of exits, starting with R.Ashwin in Australia in January, followed by Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, just before selection for the England series, it is a mere coincidence. Pujara has realised, and rightly so, there is no room for him in the Test squad. After all, the last time he played for India was in the ICC Test Championship final against Australia in 2023 in England.
That, however, does not mean Pujara should not be celebrated for what value he lent to the team from 2010 to 2023. Ask any cricket fan who has watched Indian Test cricket first and not the instant T20 cricket stuff, notably the IPL, they will tell you plenty of stories of what it is to be an important cog in the wheel. The kind of contributions which Pujara made cannot be weighed merely through statistics. These were knocks which came at important junctures, a life-saver of sorts for the Indian team.
This is an era where cricketers are remembered for what they did in the short run. No, Pujara needs to be valued rather than valuated for his contributions to Indian cricket, where Tests were the format he so loved. And so did the fans, who fell in love more with his defence rather than flashy strokes. Old time Test cricket is pure and pristine People who watched Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman, all grace and grit, were a class act. Pujara, too, created a special place for himself in the team, where the 103 Tests saw him score 7195 runs.
Notably, these knocks were for the team where the Rajkot man put team above self. One can argue, Pujara may not have looked as bold as some of the predecessors who retired recently, the two former captains – Kohli and Rohit. But then, Pujara was always happy to prove his worth despite not being guaranteed many more riches which the IPL brought to players.
For those who value the tenets in Test cricket, being fundamentally strong and technically equipped to deal with the challenges, be it while facing the pacers or spinners, Pujara will be respected for the discipline which was defined the grammar of his batting efforts. Nineteen centuries and 35 half centuries is a lot, when you compare Pujara with his predecessor.
Social media has already erupted and thanked Pujara, but if you look at the own post of Pujara, it tells you so much about his personality. He has thanked one and all from the bottom of his heart, minus any rancor. In a way, to leave when people recall good memories is a positive sign for any athlete. Having already slipped into a TV role, Pujara is already an established analyst. He will have a great next innings for sure.
No mention of Pooji, as he was addressed, will be complete without a mention of his contributions in domestic cricket for Saurashtra as well. In 278 first class matches, he scored 21,301 runs. It includes a highest knock of 352 runs, scored against Karnataka in the Ranji Trophy quarter-final 12 years ago. Pujara is already respected as an analyst and his videos capture so much for all the die-hard fans hooked to two leading cricket websites.
