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Cheteshwar Pujara thanked fans for their support for wishes on his retirement.
Cheteshwar Pujara has announced his retirement from Tests.
(PC: AFP)
Cheteshwar Pujara, a cornerstone of Indian batting in Test cricket for over a decade, announced his retirement from all forms of cricket on Sunday, marking the end of his distinguished Test career.
The 37-year-old revealed his decision on social media, having played his last of 103 Tests in 2023.
On Tuesday, Pujara took to social media to thank his well-wishers for their messages.
“Truly grateful for all the love and wishes, Pujara posted on X.
What Did Pujara Say About Wishes After Retirement?
“Hello, everyone. I would like to thank each and every one of you for your wishes and kind words. Since last couple of days, so many of you have reached out. It is very overwhelming for me. I tried replying to as many messages as possible, but if I missed on some, I would like to apologise for that. It has been an honour to represent the country at the highest level, and I would like to contribute to the Indian cricket in whatever manner I can, but I’m very grateful to all of you for all the love and support you have showered upon me. Thank you very much,” Pujara said in a video message.
Pujara’s announcement was not entirely unexpected, considering the team’s other stalwarts, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, had retired from Test cricket before the England tour earlier this year, while another long-time teammate, R Ashwin, retired midway through the Australia tour in December.
With 7,195 runs at an average of 43.60, Pujara ranks eighth among India’s all-time leading run-getters. He also accumulated 21,301 runs in first-class cricket.
Though Pujara was anticipated to play another domestic season for Saurashtra, he decided it was the right time to move on.
During his time away from the Indian team, Pujara turned to commentary, being part of the broadcast team for the recent India-England series in the UK. As recently as last month, he appeared committed to playing another year of domestic cricket and maintained his fitness routine even while commentating.
Pujara scored 19 centuries and 35 half-centuries in his career spanning from 2010 to 2023.
His conventional methods may not have been the most attractive, but they were highly effective. He excelled at tiring out bowlers and batting for long periods, showcased best during the back-to-back tours of Australia in 2018 and 2021, where he played a crucial role in India’s successive series victories Down Under.
After the team moved on from him and Ajinkya Rahane in 2023, Pujara continued to score heavily in domestic cricket with the enthusiasm of a teenager.
(With inputs from Agencies)
Ritayan Basu, Senior Sub-Editor, Sports at News18.com. Has been covering domestic and and international football for nearly a decade. Has played and covered badminton. Ocassionally writes cricket content, havin…Read More
Ritayan Basu, Senior Sub-Editor, Sports at News18.com. Has been covering domestic and and international football for nearly a decade. Has played and covered badminton. Ocassionally writes cricket content, havin… Read More
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