NEW DELHI– Former India captain Virat Kohli penned a heartfelt message for Cheteshwar Pujara after the veteran batter announced his retirement from all forms of international cricket. Pujara, who last played for India in the 2023 World Test Championship final, ended a distinguished career with 7,195 runs in 103 Tests at an average of 43.60, including 19 centuries and 35 half-centuries.
Kohli, who shared some of India’s greatest Test victories alongside Pujara, took to Instagram stories to thank his long-time teammate. “Thank you for making my job easier at 4 pujji. You’ve had an amazing career. Congratulations and wish you the best for what’s ahead. God bless @cheteshwarpujara,” Kohli wrote.
Together, the duo became the backbone of India’s middle order during Kohli’s captaincy years. They combined for 3,513 runs in 83 innings, producing seven century partnerships and 18 stands of fifty or more.
One of Pujara’s most defining contributions came in the historic 2018-19 Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia, where he amassed 521 runs in seven innings. His ability to blunt the Australian pace attack laid the foundation for India’s 2-1 triumph — their first-ever Test series win on Australian soil. Kohli has frequently credited Pujara’s resilience as pivotal to that success.
Reflecting on his retirement, the 37-year-old said he made the decision with pride. “See, I didn’t think much about it earlier. For about a week, I thought a little that this is the right time. So today, when I took this decision, it was quite a proud moment for me and for my whole family. On this day, I want to thank all my teammates, my coaches, and all the support staff I worked with, because this is a proud moment for me,” Pujara said.
He described representing India as the fulfillment of a childhood dream. “From childhood, when I was small, it was always a dream to play for India. When that dream got completed and for so many years this journey went on, we created so many memories, so there are many proud moments in my career till now,” he added. (Source: IANS)
