Cheteshwar Pujara Retires: A Test Era Defined Alongside Virat Kohli

Cheteshwar Pujara’s retirement from international cricket has marked the end of a remarkable chapter in India’s Test history, where his resilience and patience formed a perfect counterbalance to Virat Kohli’s aggressive brilliance. Together, the two created a defining era of Indian batsmanship.

Pujara, often described as the backbone of India’s batting, earned his reputation through determination and discipline at the crease. His success was most evident in contests against Australia, where he scored five centuries and averaged 49.38 in both home and away matches. Notably, this figure surpassed Rahul Dravid’s average against the same opponent and even eclipsed Kohli’s 40.57 in matches India won abroad. These numbers underline Pujara’s critical role in shaping India’s success in challenging overseas conditions.

His style stood in sharp contrast to Kohli’s. While Kohli personified intensity, flair, and hunger for big scores, Pujara thrived on patience, often wearing down bowlers over long spells. This difference in approach gave India a rare batting equilibrium—one player anchoring innings through sheer perseverance, the other dominating attacks with commanding stroke-play. Analysts believe this combination helped India transform into a formidable Test side, particularly outside the subcontinent.

Though Pujara was often overshadowed in headlines by Kohli’s flamboyance, his contribution was no less decisive. He became a symbol of endurance, ensuring India had a dependable wall to withstand pressure in high-stakes matches. His ability to grind through difficult spells provided the platform for others to flourish.

As Pujara bows out, Indian cricket closes a significant era where contrasting batting philosophies merged to deliver some of its greatest Test triumphs. His retirement not only signals the loss of a tireless warrior but also highlights how his partnership with Kohli defined a golden age of Indian Test cricket.