Cheteshwar Pujara walking off after a gritty knock, symbolizing resilience and determination in Test cricket (Freepik)
The world slowed down with Cheteshwar Pujara's batting. Not a showman with dazzling strokes, but spellbound with discipline, indomitable determination and intake of punishment. Each ball he faced defied, an inning was a masterclass in patience. Much like him was Pujara, his batting did not seem far from ordinary cricketers simple in look but needed the extraordinary guts to be worthy.
It was aggressive debut of Pujara against Australia in 2010; most few would witness again, flowing stroke making it to a mature 72 in the second innings. But Pujara made his way into the one-down role after the retirement of Dravid in 2012 and made himself immovable in India.
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Criticism of his strike rate would often be followed by praise of his steadfastness becoming the backbone of India's Test future. It was Anil Kumble while coaching who shut doors on the debate about scoring rates, reminding all that Test cricket judges batters on survival and not speed.
If one series defined Pujara for the future, it was the Border Gavaskar Trophy of 2018-19. He faced mind-boggling deliveries 1,258 delivering 521 runs-while draining the world's premier bowling unit in Australia. His 193 in Sydney sealed the first-ever series victory Down Under for India, a triumph Kohli and Shastri admitted would not have been achieved without him.
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Two years later, after receiving blows from bouncers, an unyielding Pujara became again the rock as a depleted India scripted a historic win at Brisbane, thus making it repeat series win on Australian shores.
His greatness lay in redefining aggression in a way that did not flamboyantly display it but stubbornly resisted. Pujara received innumerable body blows without flinching and was always considered to be above personal milestones in his team. Calm leader, quiet assurance all qualities that made him valuable in the dressing room, despite the fact that he often remained outside the limelight.
All that remains is statistics in retirement for Pujara. However, he sets an example of courage, humility, and team-first cricket. Tendulkar or Kohli may not carry such fame in his name, but his glory is set in every hour spent on the crease. Cricket shall remember him not as man of flair, but as gentleman-warrior with his strength rooted in patience, perseverance and an unwieldable will.
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