Cheteshwar Pujara responds to Virat Kohli’s ‘making my job simpler’ comment | Cricket News

Cheteshwar Pujara and Virat Kohli (AFP Photo)

NEW DELHI: India’s batting icon Virat Kohli on Tuesday thanked longtime teammate Cheteshwar Pujara for making his position “easier” within the Test center order, with the duo forming a powerful partnership for practically a decade.Pujara, 37, introduced his retirement from worldwide cricket on Sunday, having made his Test debut in 2010 in opposition to Australia in Bengaluru.“Thank you for making my job easier at (number) 4 pujji. You’ve had an amazing career. Congratulations and wish you the best for what’s ahead. God bless @cheteshwarpujara,” Kohli, who himself retired from Tests in May this 12 months, wrote on Instagram.Pujara responded warmly to Kohli’s tribute.“Will cherish the memorable times on and off the field! Thank you for your kind words,” he mentioned.Together, Kohli and Pujara compiled 3,513 runs in 83 Test innings, registering seven century partnerships and 18 half-century stands at a mean of 43.37.Pujara’s retirement drew widespread admiration from former teammates and coaches, who praised his grit, resilience, and selfless contributions to Indian cricket.Across 103 Tests, Pujara scored 7,195 runs at a mean of 43.60, together with 19 centuries and 35 fifties.He was central to Kohli’s Test aspect that scripted a historic collection win in Australia in the course of the 2018-19 Border-Gavaskar Trophy, amassing 521 runs in seven innings.In the 2020-21 version of the collection in Australia, he as soon as once more proved pivotal, scoring 271 runs in 4 matches at 33.87, with three half-centuries and a highest of 77.

In first-class cricket, Pujara performed 278 matches, scoring 21,301 runs at a mean of 51.82, with 66 centuries and 81 fifties. His highest rating was 352.Pujara’s ultimate look for India got here within the 2023 World Test Championship ultimate in opposition to Australia at The Oval in London.