‘I have decided to…’: Cheteshwar Pujara- a Superstar of Test cricket- bids farewell to cricket with a Heartfelt post
Cheteshwar Pujara, one of the greatest players for India in Test cricket, has announced his retirement from complete cricket on Sunday. Pujara has not been in action for a long time, with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) giving chance to young players instead of veterans.
Cheteshwar Pujara was seen representing India for the last time in 2023 against Australia at the Kennington Oval and he was overlooked ever since. Even though there were rumours that Pujara will return to the format for the tour of Australia in 2025, but the selectors decided to chose young and less-experienced players.
Taking to Instagram to announce the big news, Pujara wrote: “As a little boy from the small town of Rajkot, along with my parents, I set out to aim for the stars; and dreamt to be a part of the Indian cricket team. Little did I know then that this game would give me so much – invaluable opportunities, experiences, purpose, love, and above all a chance to represent my state and this great nation. Wearing the Indian jersey, singing the anthem, and trying my best each time I stepped on the field – it’s impossible to put into words what it truly meant. But as they say, all good things must come to an end, and with immense gratitude I have decided to retire from all forms of Indian cricket. I would like to thank the BCCI, and Saurashtra Cricket Association for the opportunity and support through my cricket career. Am equally grateful to all the teams, franchises and counties I have been able to represent over the years. I wouldn’t have made it this far without the invaluable guidance of my mentors, coaches and spiritual guru – to them I shall always remain indebted.“
In the second slide of his Instagram post, Pujara wrote, “A big thank you to all my teammates, support staff, net bowlers, analysts, logistics team, umpires, ground staff, scorers, media personnel and all those who tirelessly work behind the scenes to enable us to compete and play this game we love. To my sponsors, partners and management team – I truly appreciate your loyalty and belief in me over the years, and for looking after my off-field activites. The game has taken me to places across the globe – and the passionate support and energy of the fans has always been a constant. I have been humbled by the wishes and motivation wherever I have played and will always remain grateful. And of course none of all this would have been possible or meaningful without the innumerable sacrifices and steadfast support of my family – my parents, my wife Puja, my daughter Aditi; my in-laws and the rest of my extended family – who have made this journey truly worth it. I look forward to the next phase of my life, spending more time with and prioritizing them. Thank you for all the love and support!“
Speaking about his Test career, Cheteshwar Pujara player more than 100 Test matches for India, where he scored 7195 runs. Throughout his career, Pujara scored 19 centuries (three double-centuries) and 35 half-centuries.
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