Watch: Bruised but not damaged! When Cheteshwar Pujara was hit 11 times by Australia — and stood tall | Cricket News

Cheteshwar Pujara in motion on day 5 of the 4th Test Match vs Australia in Brisbane (Images by way of Getty Images)

(*11*)Cheteshwar Pujara, who introduced his retirement from all types of cricket on Sunday, leaves behind a profession celebrated for its endurance, braveness and resilience. Among the various innings that outlined him, his 56 off 211 balls throughout India’s historic win on the Gabba in 2021 stands out,but not only for the runs, but for the sheer bodily punishment he withstood. On the ultimate day in Brisbane, as Australia’s quick bowlers launched a relentless barrage, Pujara was struck 11 times on his physique. Pat Cummins hit him on the again of the helmet, beneath the neck, chest, thigh, bicep and as soon as on the gloves.Mitchell Starc rapped him twice on the underside glove, whereas Josh Hazlewood delivered three painful blows. One was on the arm above the elbow, the opposite on the gloves that even made him drop his bat, and lastly on the helmet which noticed his neck guard fall off.

Cheteshwar Pujara is seen to by a medic after being struck by the ball throughout day 5 of the 4th Test Match within the collection between Australia and India at The Gabba on January 19, 2021 in Brisbane, Australia. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)

Each strike was a painful blow, but Pujara refused to flinch. His 211-ball vigil blunted Australia’s tempo assault and set the stage for Rishabh Pant to script one among India’s most well-known Test victories. Explaining his mindset later, Pujara revealed why he selected to take the blows somewhat than fend them with the bat. “Getting hit on the head wasn’t very painful because you have the protection of a helmet. Yes, it looks very scary when you’re watching on TV and even as a batter you don’t want to get hit on the helmet … forget about the pain and the bruises … but talking about that pitch, I feel it had variable bounce. Especially from one end, the ball wasn’t rising much and then at times it was rising more than what I was expecting,” Pujara stated again in 2021.

Cheteshwar Pujara is struck by the ball throughout day 5 of the 4th Test Match within the collection between Australia and India at The Gabba on January 19, 2021 in Brisbane, Australia. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)

“There was the option of defending with the bat, but it wasn’t the safe option because the ball could hit your glove and go to short leg, leg slip or gully or you can be out caught-behind. So I wanted to rule that option out. That is why I was taking blows on my body,” he added.

Cheteshwar Pujara is seen to by a medic after being struck by the ball throughout day 5 of the 4th Test Match within the collection between Australia and India at The Gabba on January 19, 2021 in Brisbane, Australia. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)

Pujara’s endurance earned reward from throughout the cricketing world. Sunil Gavaskar, paying tribute after his retirement, instructed TOI, “One of the old-school cricketers who put India above everything else. Took endless blows for Indian cricket but never took a backward step. Hopefully, Indian cricket will use his experience and expertise to teach young budding cricketers that whatever they become in life is because of Indian cricket and it should come above anything and everything. Take a bow, Cheteshwar. You have made India proud.”

In some ways, these 11 blows on the Gabba captured the essence of Cheteshwar Pujara — a batter who wore ache as armour, and stood tall when India wanted him most.

Where all was Pujara hit and by whom?

Body elements struck