Cheteshwar Pujara, the old-fashioned batter who lent spine to the Indian Test unit

Cheteshwar Pujara, the epitome of classical batsmanship, bids farewell to cricket after a distinguished career.

The crowd’s raucous affection was reserved for Tendulkar and Kohli, while for Dravid and his successor Pujara, there was muted respect. Incidentally Pujara made his Test debut in Dravid’s hometown Bengaluru in 2010, and that too against Australia, an opponent he often defied through his storied career.

A brisk second innings 72 in a winning chase, marked out Pujara as one for the long haul. The promising start, however, was marred by an injury. A knee surgery and its after-effects affected him for long. But he returned to his favourite longer format, and once Dravid retired, made the number three spot his own.

Leaving the ball, defending as if his life-breath depended on it, and getting his eye in before essaying some shots, were all part of Pujara’s copybook. Hailing from Rajkot and representing Saurashtra in first-class cricket, Pujara revealed an enormous appetite for runs.

Daddy hundreds were his norm and once he firmed up his stance within the Test unit, the runs, doughty and enduring, flowed. As he finishes with 7195 runs averaging 43.60 from 103 Tests, and with 19 tons to boot, Pujara can look back with pride at a splendid career.

He last played for India in 2023 as leading up to it, the runs had dried up. He and Ajinkya Rahane were eased out during the transition process. With Pujara preferring to rest his feet, a distinct stage in Indian cricket has concluded. As Rohit Sharma and Kohli have already retired, India’s middle-order is bound to sport a new feel, which was obvious in the recent England tour.

Having moved into the commentator’s chair, an ultimate tribute was paid to Pujara when Aussie speedsters, while talking to him on air, told him: “Good, not to bowl to you Puji.” They would know, as Pujara was a leading champion when India defeated Australia in its backyard in the 2018-19 series.

He scored three hundreds then, and in the 2020-21 away series, played a gritty hand as India prevailed over host Australia. At 37, Pujara has decided to move on while his place in the pantheon of Indian batting greats is assured.