The Silent Warrior of No.3 – Cheteshwar Pujara Retires from International Cricket,End of an Era:

The Silent Warrior of No.3 – Cheteshwar Pujara Retires from International Cricket

From a 13-year-long career span, Cheteshwar Pujara played with patience, calmness, composure, clinical precision, and an old-school classical batting style. Absorbing the pressure with his unyielding approach towards the game, he has now decided to pack his bags from International Cricket.

One of the greatest No.3 batsmen for India, the man carried billions of hopes as a saviour and carried forward the legacy of Rahul Dravid’s “The Wall” in Test cricket. He served as a red-ball specialist batter in his whole career with his bottom-hand technique and nonchalant toughness.

Pujara added 7,195 runs in 103 Test matches with an average of 43.60, where he hammered 19 relentless tons and 35 noteworthy half-centuries. Meanwhile, he faced 16,217 balls in his career which clearly shows his temperament and approach in the Test format. With his customary shots and typical dogged batting style, he became irritating and boring for the opposition pacers. Pujara’s job was to stand tall and let the ball become old and less effective. His conventional batting never considered him as a white-ball player.

📝⌛  End of an Era:

Many times Pujara soaked up the pressure of the new ball and became the saviour for his team, remaining unshaken for a long time. He batted for 5 to 11 hours, which is why he became the Wall of the Indian Test team after Rahul Dravid.

 Some🎯 phenomenal contributions with the bat in Cheteshwar Pujara’s career:📝

🔎 2012 – Ahmedabad, Test match (Ind vs England)

   - 🎯 206 off 513 ball

In this Test, Pujara’s first double century of his career, in just his 6th Test match, marked the emergence of “The Wall 2.0” in Test cricket after Dravid. His unbeaten marathon innings of 206* ensured India’s big total in the first innings, and as a result, India won by 9 wickets.

🔎 2018 – Adelaide, BGT 2018 vs Australia

 -🎯 123 runs & 71 runs (1st and 2nd innings)

Pujara’s gritty first-innings hundred set the stage, and his half-century in the second innings helped India to claim their first Test victory in Adelaide.

🔎 2021 – Brisbane, 4th Test (BGT 2020-21) 

     🏆 {Gabba Fortress Broken}

      - 🎯 56 off 216 balls

This brave innings built the foundation of victory along with Shubman Gill and Rishabh Pant’s finishing touch. Pujara battled for more than 5 hours, taking blows from the Australian pace trio (Starc, Cummins, Hazlewood) but stood unshaken and wore the Aussies down mentally. As a result, India broke Australia’s 32-year unbeaten streak at the Gabba and sealed the historic series win 2-1.

🔎 2021 – Sydney, 3rd Test (BGT 2020-21)

       - 🎯 73 off 205 balls

Before the incredible Gabba victory, India had to save the 3rd Test somehow to stay alive in the series. Chasing a huge 407 in the fourth innings, Pujara played the anchor role with Rishabh Pant for hours. His innings, combined with the brave fight from Ashwin and Vihari, helped India draw the Test.