Cheteshwar Pujara, who put in papers announcing his retirement from all Indian cricket on Sunday, takes with him a career sculpted by grit, perseverance, and unparalleled patience. As his 103-Test career was marked by marathon innings and acts of silent heroism, there is one innings that towers above the rest as the ultimate reflection of his career his unyielding resistance in Brisbane during India's record-breaking 2020–21 series victory in Australia.
The Border-Gavaskar Trophy for 2020–21 had already become a story of survival and grit. India were bowled out for a paltry 36 in Adelaide, mounted an incredible comeback in Melbourne, and thereafter struggled for a heroic draw in Sydney. When the fourth Test commenced at the Gabba a ground where Australia had not lost since 1988 the series was at 1-1.
Injuries to major players such as Virat Kohli, Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, and Jasprit Bumrah left India with what most referred to as a "second-string side" when they went to Brisbane. But spearheaded by Ajinkya Rahane, the side was not about to throw in the towel.
Australia gave India a challenging 328 on the last day to chase. Nobody thought the visitors would succeed in running it down, but what transpired was one of India's all-time Test triumphs.
In the midst of the counter-attacking fireworks by Shubman Gill (91) and the dashing finish by Rishabh Pant (89*), it was Cheteshwar Pujara's 211-ball 56 that rescued the team. He faced Cummins, Hazlewood, and Starc on a bouncy wicket and took body blows, hits on his helmet, chest, and hands but never gave up.
Pujara's capacity to stem Australia's fast bowlers made sure wickets did not fall in bunches. Each hit he absorbed sucked the energy out of the opposition, setting up the platform for Gill's hitting and Pant's heroics. By the time Pant lifted the winning boundary, Pujara had already spent more than five hours on the field, personifying grit.
That Gabba ton was not an aberration, but the hallmark of Pujara's career. In 103 Tests, he compiled 7,195 runs at 43.60 with 19 hundreds and 35 fifties. Beyond the numbers, it was his temperament the readiness to take up the crease, cherish his wicket, and battle through hostile spells that made him invaluable to India's Test success.
From Ranchi 2017, when he scored more than 11 hours against Australia, to Adelaide 2018, where his century was the platform for India's historic series victory Down Under, Pujara's career is a walk of innings marked by patience and determination.
On Sunday, the 37-year-old announced his retirement via a heartfelt note on X, thanking teammates and fans: "Wearing the Indian jersey, singing the anthem, and giving it my all every time I took to the field - it's not possible to describe just what it really meant. But as they say, all good things must end."
His most recent appearance was in the 2023 World Test Championship final at The Oval. Despite being dropped, he remained available to serve Saurashtra and Sussex, displaying his long-standing passion for red-ball cricket.
As tributes flood in, one picture will stay seared into cricket memory: Pujara, battered but defiant, smiling tall at the Gabba, guiding one of India's greatest away wins. That match more about guts than runs will define Cheteshwar Pujara's legacy as India's greatest Test warrior for all time.
