Former India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin paid a touching tribute to Cheteshwar Pujara after the veteran batter announced his retirement from all forms of Indian cricket. Ashwin described Pujara’s batting as nothing short of a “symphony.”
On Sunday, the 37-year-old Cheteshwar Pujara confirmed his retirement on his ‘X’ handle, bringing the curtain down on a career that spanned more than a decade. He made his international debut against Australia in Bengaluru on October 9, 2010, and went on to play 103 Tests, scoring 7,195 runs at an average of 43.60. His tally included 19 hundreds, 35 fifties, and a highest score of 206*. He also featured in five ODIs, scoring 51 runs.
Ashwin’s Tribute to Cheteshwar Pujara
Speaking on his YouTube channel, R Ashwin highlighted the importance of Cheteshwar Pujara’s role at number three, calling him a player who could blunt the new ball and grind down bowlers, making life easier for his teammates.
“Pujara’s contribution at No.3, if you agree or don’t, was instrumental in helping Virat Kohli also make a lot of his runs,” Ashwin said.
He recalled one particular example – the third Test against South Africa at Johannesburg in 2018. On a spicy and unpredictable pitch, Pujara battled through 179 balls for a gritty 50, which gave Virat Kohli (54 off 106) the platform to build India’s total of 187. During that innings, Pujara even took 53 balls to get off the mark. Thanks to Jasprit Bumrah’s five-wicket haul, South Africa managed only a seven-run lead.
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Although Cheteshwar Pujara scored just one in the second innings, India still put up 247 and bowled South Africa out for 177, with Mohammed Shami picking up a five-for to seal victory.
“Pujara’s contribution at No.3, if you agree or do not, was instrumental in helping Virat Kohli also make a lot of his runs, and I have one such case as an example. In the final Test against South Africa at the Wanderers, where the pitch was deemed too dangerous at one stage, Pujara played 53 balls before he got off the mark. A thankless job a really, really, spiteful Wanderers pitch, the ball was going all over the place,” Ashwin explained.
“A Symphony” at the Crease
R Ashwin went on to describe Cheteshwar Pujara’s batting in a way only he could.
“Pujara is one such guy, when he bats it looks like a symphony. You may see reels on Instagram, edits like Virat’s cover drive, Rohit Sharma’s pull shot, MS Dhoni’s Helicopter Shot, but Pujara’s defence, even that has to be featured with music and all that. He is a Test legend, absolute massive legend of Indian cricket, his contribution is no less than anyone else. I would put my head on the block, his contribution is not less than anyone else, whether it be Virat, or Rohit, or anybody,” he said.
Pujara’s Finest Hours
Cheteshwar Pujara is best remembered for his incredible contributions in India’s back-to-back Border-Gavaskar Trophy wins in Australia in 2018 and 2020. His patience and solid defence frustrated the Australians and turned both series in India’s favour.
In 2018, he was India’s top scorer with 521 runs in four matches at an average of 74.42, including three centuries and a fifty, with a best of 193. In the 2020-21 series, he made 271 runs at an average of 33.87, hitting three half-centuries. His best was 77, but his most heroic effort came in the final Test at The Gabba, where he absorbed countless blows to his body from Australia’s fast bowlers and still held firm, paving the way for India’s historic win.
A Giant in Domestic Cricket Too
Outside international cricket, Pujara was a true giant in the domestic circuit. In 278 first-class games, he amassed a staggering 21,301 runs, with 66 centuries and 81 fifties to his name.
With those numbers and his priceless grit, Cheteshwar Pujara will always be remembered as one of India’s greatest red-ball warriors.
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