Virat Kohli Pays Tribute to Cheteshwar Pujara's Remarkable Test Career

Kohli Acknowledges Pujara's Impact on Indian Cricket

On Tuesday, renowned batsman Virat Kohli expressed his gratitude towards his long-time teammate Cheteshwar Pujara, highlighting how Pujara made his role in the Test batting lineup significantly easier. The duo has been a formidable middle-order partnership for nearly ten years.

Pujara, who is 37 years old, announced his retirement from international cricket on Sunday, marking the end of a journey that began in 2010 against Australia in Bengaluru.

In a heartfelt Instagram post, Kohli stated, "Thank you for making my job easier at number 4, Pujji. You’ve had an incredible career. Congratulations and best wishes for your future endeavors. God bless @cheteshwarpujara." Kohli himself retired from Test cricket in May of this year.

Together, Kohli and Pujara amassed 3,513 runs across 83 Test innings, achieving seven century partnerships and 18 half-century collaborations, with an impressive average of 43.37.

Pujara's retirement has sparked a wave of respect from the cricket community, with former teammates and coaches praising his resilience, dedication, and the selflessness that characterized his Test career.

Over his career, Pujara participated in 103 Tests, accumulating 7,195 runs at an average of 43.6, including 19 centuries and 35 half-centuries.

The Saurashtra batsman played a crucial role in Kohli's Test team, particularly during the historic Border-Gavaskar Trophy victory in Australia in 2018-19, where he scored 521 runs in seven innings, helping India clinch the series 2-1.