Cheteshwar Pujara refuses to believe India's recent poor record at home is because of transition.
Former India batter Cheteshwar Pujara on Thursday stressed that each and every bilateral assignment will be "very important" now for stalwarts Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma as India look ahead to the 2027 ODI World Cup.
Every innings he played will be remembered along with every drop of sweat he shed to display the purity of technique with resilience, recalls veteran cricket correspondent K R Nayar.
Cheteshwar Pujara was the cornerstone of the Indian batting line-up in Tests, featuring in 103 matches in which he scored 7,195 runs at an average of 43.60, with 19 centuries.
The former India number three posted the copy of the letter on social media and thanked the prime minister for his warm words.
While modern greats like Shubman Gill and Joe Root shy away from batting at No. 3, Nasser Hussain says Cheteshwar Pujara embraced the challenge and carried forward Rahul Dravid's legacy with distinction.
From Rajkot's maidans to cricket's grandest arenas, Cheteshwar Pujara carved a niche as the bedrock of India's Test side. He is one of only 14 Indians to feature in more than 100 Tests, and his innings often defined India's most memorable triumphs.
Cheteshwar Pujara, one of India's finest Test batters, called time on his illustrious career on Sunday.
Batting maestro Virat Kohli on Tuesday posted a heartfelt note to pay tributes to former teammate Cheteshwar Pujara, who announced retirement from international cricket the other day.
Ravichandran Ashwin paid a heartwarming tribute to batter Cheteshwar Pujara following his retirement from all forms of Indian cricket, calling his batting a "symphony".
'Pujara, it was always reassuring to see you walk out at No.3. You brought calm, courage, and a deep love for Test cricket every time you played.'
Making his Test debut against Australia in 2010, Cheteshwar Pujara went on to represent India in 103 Tests, amassing 7195 runs at an average of 43.60, including 19 centuries.
Cheteshwar Pujara's retirement from Indian cricket on Sunday prompted an outpouring of tributes, none more heartfelt than Jaydev Unadkat's.
In the era of uber-stylish batters, Pujara was that glue that held the Indian batting together for a decade between 2013-14 till 2023 over a period of 100 plus Test matches.
2025 will go down as one of the most unsettling chapters in Indian cricket -- not merely because of who retired, but because of how and when it happened.
Having bid adieu to his stellar Test career a content man, Indian Test batting great Cheteshwar Pujara wouldn't mind a coaching stint or a role at the BCCI's Centre of Excellence in the next stage of his cricketing journey.
Overall, in his IPL career, Ravi Bishnoi has picked up 72 wickets in 77 games at an economy rate of 8.21.
Cheteshwar Pujara understands more than anyone else that time was right for him to bid adieu without any regrets.
'The Diary of a Cricketer's Wife' penned by Puja Pujara, capturing the journey of her husband Cheteshwar, found a hallowed introduction place at the Lord's Cricket Ground library and the author termed the book as "something for everyone."
The Lord's holds a special place of pride for Pujara who became the first Indian to achieve a first-class double hundred at Lord's, when he scored a double century for Sussex against Middlesex in 2022.
The 317th man to play for India in Test cricket, Sudharsan was handed his Test cap by former India No 3 bat, Cheteshwar Pujara.
Pujara believes there are 'shades of Rishabh Pant' in the young English batter, who took the attack to the Indian bowlers with remarkable flair.
'I definitely believe the kind of form he is in, the way he is batting, it will strengthen the Indian batting line-up.'
While the white-ball trophy cabinet kept getting heavier, Team India's fortunes in Test cricket swung wildly between hope and despair in 2025.
Pujara recalled the struggles made by his parents to support his career.
'All I remember is that when I used to go to the ground, when I was 14-years-old, and when I came back in the evening, the colour of my face would be completely different.'
In India's previpus tours of England, Rahane and Pujara have amassed 864 and 870 runs in 16 Test matches, respectively.
Rahane recommends radical change in appointment of selectors, Pujara agrees partially
Ajinkya Rahane and Cheteshwar Pujara, who have had a prolific career in the Ranji Trophy, know the importance of rewarding consistent performers in the domestic circuit with international call-ups.
'The entire team started working on the fitness, and at the same time, Virat paid a lot of attention to the Test format, and he wanted the team to be one of the best in the world.'
If I get an opportunity to represent the country, that will be the best thing: Pujara
Gautam Gambhir, India's head coach, may have expressed support for the Kolkata pitch, but it continues to draw criticism from all quarters.
Domestic veterans Ruturaj Gaikwad, Rajat Patidar and Rinku Singh could keep the team management interested going forward in Test cricket.
'The No. 3 spot can't become a game of musical chairs.'
The collapse, India's lowest failed chase at home, has left behind deeper fault lines than a dry Eden Gardens wicket can conceal.
India's awe-inspiring batting depth will face a stern test against South Africa's quality spin attack in the first Test, starting in Kolkata on Friday.
Sai was never under pressure as he is mentally very tough: Kotak
Saurashtra will be bolstered by the presence of India all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja against a strong Madhya Pradesh i the second round of Ranji Trophy.
Cheteshwar Pujara elieves that a shift in playing philosophy is the need of the hour for CSK even if it means scoring at a quicker clip.
Thank you, Dear Readers, for sharing your pictures of Lord Ganesha.
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