Cheteshwar Pujara, India’s Test stalwart, who recently retired from all formats of cricket, has received a touching farewell message from Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Pujara, who represented India in 103 Tests and amassed 7,195 runs at an average of 43.60, shared his gratitude, saying:
“I was honoured to receive a letter of appreciation on my retirement from our Honourable Prime Minister. The warm sentiments expressed are much appreciated.”
In his letter, PM Modi praised Pujara’s grit, discipline, and match-winning contributions in the longer format:
PM Modi wrote:
“In an age dominated by shorter formats of cricket, you were a reminder of the beauty of the longer format of the game. Your unflappable temperament and ability to bat long hours made you the fulcrum of the Indian batting line-up.”
The Prime Minister highlighted Pujara’s unforgettable role in India’s historic series win in Australia and his legacy of calm that reassured fans and teammates alike. He also lauded Pujara’s dedication to Saurashtra cricket and wished him well for his “second innings” beyond the field.
