Cricket world reacts as India's modern wall, Cheteshwar Puja, retires

Cheteshwar Pujara, widely regarded as one of India's most resilient Test batsmen, has announced his retirement from all forms of cricket, bringing a close to an illustrious career that spanned over a decade. The 37-year-old announced on social media, prompting a flood of tributes from former teammates and cricketing legends. His departure marks the end of an era defined by a purist's approach to the longest format of the game.

Throughout his career, Pujara stood as a pillar of strength for the Indian Test team, often compared to the legendary Rahul Dravid for his unwavering resolve and defensive technique. He finishes as India's eighth-highest run-scorer in Test cricket, amassing 7,195 runs from 103 matches at an average of 43.60. His impressive record includes 19 centuries and 35 half-centuries, with a career-best score of 206 not out.

The news of his retirement was met with heartfelt tributes from the cricketing fraternity. India's head coach, Gautam Gambhir, led the way, praising Pujara's fighting spirit: "He stood tall when the storm raged, he fought when hope was fading. Congratulations Pujji." The sentiment was echoed by Virender Sehwag, who hailed his grit and determination, while Yuvraj Singh celebrated him as someone who "always put his mind, body and soul for the country."

Former spinner Harbhajan Singh paid a particularly emotional tribute, calling Pujara "the unsung hero of Indian cricket." He highlighted Pujara's selflessness and immense contribution to the team, stating, "A player who always put the team before himself, who gave not just a hundred percent but everything possible for India. Your contribution to Indian cricket is immense and will be remembered for a very, very long time."

Pujara's defining moments came during India’s historic tours of Australia. In the 2018/19 Border-Gavaskar Trophy series, he was the chief tormentor for the Australian bowlers, facing an incredible 1258 balls—the most by any visiting batsman in a four-match Test series in Australia. He scored 521 runs at an average of 74.42 with three centuries, a monumental effort that laid the foundation for India’s first-ever Test series win on Australian soil.