Cheteshwar Pujara has announced his retirement from Test cricket, and with it ends an era where grit, patience, and sheer resilience stood taller than any flashy cover drive or headline-grabbing six. For over a decade, Pujara was India’s immovable force, a fortress at No. 3 who fought battles not just with his bat, but with his body and spirit.
While his Test average of 43.6 may not scream greatness, Pujara’s legacy is not defined by numbers alone. His true value lay in the countless hours he spent frustrating opposition bowlers, wearing them down, and giving India the platform to win overseas. In fact, Pujara holds the record for the highest number of Test wins in SENA (South Africa, England, New Zealand, Australia) countries by an Indian player — 11 victories, more than Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, or Rishabh Pant.
Australia: His Favorite Hunting Ground
Ask any Indian cricket fan about Pujara, and the memories instantly drift to Australia. In the 2018–19 tour, he was the cornerstone of India’s historic series win. With match-winning centuries in Adelaide and Melbourne, he not only scored runs but broke the spirit of Australia’s bowling attack. His Player of the Series award was richly deserved. Few years later, at the Gabba, he withstood brutal body blows, yet stood tall to script India’s most famous overseas triumph alongside Rishabh Pant.
A Marathon Man at the Crease
If there’s one innings that sums up Pujara, it’s his 202 in Ranchi against Australia in 2017. He faced 525 balls, a record for an Indian in a single Test innings. That’s 87.3 overs faced by one man, single-handedly grinding the opposition into submission.
The Elite Club of No. 3
Batting at No. 3, Pujara scored 6,529 runs, joining an elite list of legends like Rahul Dravid, Kumar Sangakkara, Ricky Ponting, Kane Williamson, and Hashim Amla - players with 6000+ Testruns at one drop. His name belongs in this legendary league, no matter what his critics say.
A Fighter to the End
Dropped from the playing XI in 2015, Pujara responded in the only way he knew, with grit. Opening in Sri Lanka, he carried his bat for an unbeaten 145*, becoming only the fourth Indian to achieve that rare feat after Sunil Gavaskar, Virender Sehwag, and Rahul Dravid.
More Than an Average
Yes, 43.6 doesn't scream extraordinary. What it doesn’t show is 2,703 overs survived, the bruises taken, the pressure absorbed, and the victories secured. Cheteshwar Pujara wasn’t just a batter. He was India’s human shield, the embodiment of Test cricket’s soul.As Pujara bows out, one thing is certain, Indian cricket will miss its unsung hero. And the respect he deserves? It must echo louder than ever.
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