Cheteshwar Pujara’s retirement from cricket overall has brought back debate about India’s greats being deprived of due farewells. Ex-India bowler Karsan Ghavri has expressed his outrage, stating Pujara’s move is reflective of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma’s sentiments, who themselves recently relinquished Test cricket.
Pujara’s Illustrious Career
Pujara, whose reputation as a fighter and a consistent performer in Test cricket is well-established, scored 7,195 runs from 103 Tests at a rate of 43.60, with 19 centuries and 35 half-centuries. His great shows in India’s successive Test series wins in Australia fixed him firmly as one of the best middle-order batsmen of his generation.
Though unsuccessful on the ODIs and T20Is front, Pujara continued to play at the domestic level, for Saurashtra in the Ranji Trophy and for county cricket with Sussex, proving that he was as dedicated to the game even when he was benched from India’s Test team.
Ghavri Criticizes BCCI
Karsan Ghavri also opined that Pujara might have retired due to frustration, something that also Kohli and Rohit felt before quitting Test cricket abruptly. In an interview with Mid-day, Ghavri revealed,
“Perhaps he might have retired in frustration. Having played for the country for so long, if a player is not being given opportunities, anyone will be frustrated. Likewise, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma also must have also felt that same kind of frustration prior to the recent tour of England. The BCCI might have their own thoughts, but then the player suffers.”
Ghavri pointed out that these players were not looking for money but honour and recognition, contending that they merited farewell Tests for their admirable contributions.
Farewell Matches: A Forgotten Tradition
The debate points to a pressing issue in Indian cricket the lack of farewell games for players who have reached gargantuan milestones. Pujara, Kohli, and Rohit all belong to the esteemed group of players who have played 100 or more Tests for India and whose exclusion from official send-offs seems all the more contentious.
“Everyone who has played 100 Tests must be given a farewell Test. The BCCI must have done that to Kohli, Rohit, and Pujara because they fully deserved it given their massive contribution to the sport,” Ghavri further said.
The Emotional Burden on Players
Cricketing greats spend decades developing a career, trading away private time and enduring enormous pressure. The absence of official recognition, as in the instances of Pujara, Kohli, and Rohit, can be a heavy emotional burden. Ghavri added, “No one wants to end their career like this. If someone has represented the country in 100 or more Tests, it is most definitely a sizeable contribution. He belongs to that distinguished list of players.”
The controversy surrounding farewells raises questions about the BCCI’s approach to honoring retiring players. While the board has historically celebrated some legends, recent trends suggest that the system might need a review to ensure deserving cricketers receive proper recognition, preserving both their dignity and the legacy of Indian cricket.
For the time being, Pujara’s retirement is a bitter reminder of the personal and professional plight of cricketing greats when formal expressions of gratitude go unnoticed.
