“He deserved a dignified farewell” - Shashi Tharoor pens a heartfelt note for Cheteshwar Pujara

Indian politician Shashi Tharoor got emotional on his official X handle as he wrote a heartfelt and emotional post for the remarkable Test batter Cheteshwar Pujara, who announced his retirement from all forms of Indian cricket on Sunday, August 24.

In his latest tweet, the MP wrote that Pujara deserved a farewell game with the national team, thanks to his outstanding Test career for India at home and away. Notably, Pujara racked up 7195 runs from 103 Tests at an average of 43.6 with 19 centuries and 35 half-centuries.

“I can’t help feeling a pang of regret at the retirement of  @cheteshwar1. Even if it was inevitable after his recent string of exclusions from the Indian team, and even if he has nothing left to prove, he deserved a little longer in the saddle and a dignified farewell worthy of his outstanding Test career for India,” Tharoor wrote on his X handle.

“When he was dropped, with typical gumption, he returned to the domestic scene and racked up a number of impressive scores. But the selectors had decided to move on, and one cannot blame him for deciding to throw in the towel,” he added.

“I was reading his wife’s “Diary of a Cricketer’s Wife“ and reflecting on how much it takes to achieve all that Pujara did. He first caught my eye on an India A tour of England, 20 years ago, when his consistent scoring suggested he was ready for the next level. The selectors agreed, he made a precocious 72 in his second innings on debut, & despite one or two setbacks thereafter, went on to become India’s Mr. Reliable at number three. He was badly missed on the last tour of Australia,” he wrote.

“All the best, @cheteshwar1 Pujara! And thank you for your years of service to Indian cricket!,” he concluded.

https://x.com/ShashiTharoor/status/1959537732998267276 

It’s worth noting that Pujara made his Test debut against Australia at M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru in 2010, and his last Test also came against Australia at The Oval in the World Test Championship 2023 Final in June 2023.

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