37 -year -old Cheteshwar Pujara on Sunday announced his retirement from competitive cricket. He has scored 7195 runs in 103 Tests with 19 centuries, with his average of more than 43. Pujara told his journalists, ‘I have no regrets. I am very lucky that I could play for the Indian team for so long. Very few players get such an opportunity, so I am very grateful to my family and those who supported me. He has started working as a broadcaster during the recent Test series in England. He indicated that he has got his career in commentary.
‘I am very happy that I’m leaving all this’
Pujara said, ‘I am very happy that I am leaving all this, but at the same time I will be connected with the game. I am commenting now and I have also started media work. I am not going to play cricket, but I will keep watching the Indian team and comment on it. The game will continue to be associated with the game. The Saurashtra batsman made his Test debut in 2010, but after the retirement of Rahul Dravid in 2012, he secured his place at number three in the batting order for the next decade.
He made two memorable tours of Australia in which the 2018-19 series was very special for him and the Indian team. Pujara scored 521 runs with three centuries on this tour and faced 1258 balls. This will always be a part of their permanent heritage. Pujara said, ‘There are many great moments on the field, but if I want to choose one Test series, then the series on Australia’s land in 2018 was one of the best achievements of my cricket career and one of the best memories for the Indian team. It was one of the best series of which I have been part.
Pujara scored 72 runs chasing the target in the second innings of his Test debut against Australia in 2010. He also became a little emotional for the Indian team remembering the debut of his career. Pujara said, ‘I made their debut to the Indian team in 2010, which was the most proud moment of my cricket career. When I made his debut under the captaincy of Mahi Bhai (Mahendra Singh Dhoni) in 2010, it was like a dream to come true for me because there were some great players in the team. There were players like Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, VVS Laxman, Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir in that team. I am still trying to remember the names that I have grown up, so it was one of the most glorious moments of my cricket career.
Pujara remembered her mother Reena on this occasion
Pujara recalled her mother Reena Pujara on the occasion who died in 2005. Pujara was 17 years old at that time. She said, ‘She always used to tell my father not to worry about her son, he will finally play for the Indian team and his words came true. I am sure that the achievements I have achieved in my cricket journey will be very proud of them. But at the same time I still remember their words, she used to tell me that no matter how big you become a cricketer, you should become a good person. I still remember this and they will be very proud of me.
