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“If We Had Won…”: Pujara Reveals The Only Missing Piece In His Glorious Career

Poulomi Chakraborty

Pujara On His Only Unfulfilled Wish (Source:@mainbhiengineer/x.com)Pujara On His Only Unfulfilled Wish (Source:@mainbhiengineer/x.com)

An era of Indian Test cricket has ended as Cheteshwar Pujara announced his retirement from all forms of cricket on Sunday. A tale of immense grit, dedication, and a never-surrender mindset has set a forever example for the next generation of cricketers.

In Pujara’s presence, Team India experienced some of the best moments of Test cricket. In a recent chat, he admitted he has no regrets, but there remains one unfulfilled chapter in his career.

Is There Any Regret In Pujara’s Career?

In Pujara’s illustrated career, the veteran Indian batter has experienced some outstanding moments of cricket, and some came as massive heartbreaks, too. Despite reaching the World Test Championship final consecutively in 2021 and 2023, Team India ended up being the runner-up.  In a chat with The Times of India, Pujara admitted he carries no regrets, though he wished a WTC trophy had found its place in India’s cabinet.

“While it would have been nice if we had won the WTC during my career, there are no regrets,” he added.

Pujara Bids Farewell To County Cricket Too

After stars like Ravichandran Ashwin, Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, and Rohit Sharma bid adieu to the game, Team India’s ace batter Cheteshwar Pujara followed the way. With 7195 runs in 103 Tests, Pujara etched unforgettable memories and carved a special place in the rich legacy of Indian Test cricket.

After being snubbed from the national side after the WTC final 2023, Pujara stayed away from international cricket but featured in a few County games. After retirement, he revealed that he has decided not to return to County cricket either.

“I was thinking of retiring from all forms of professional cricket for a week. I discussed it with my family, friends, and important people from the cricket fraternity. For me, it was important to move on so that young cricketers could represent Saurashtra and get ready for international cricket,” he said.

Is Commentary The Next Chapter In Pujara’s Journey?

Even after being dropped from the game, Cheteshwar Pujara didn’t stay away from cricket. In the Border-Gavaskar Trophy and even in the recently ended Test series against England. Just like his elegant strokes, fans also enjoyed his expert version with the mic. When asked about pursuing commentary full-time, Pujara admitted it’s still too early to make that call.

“I have just retired, and right now, it’s too early to say what I will do next. However, I have enjoyed my commentary stint, and I plan to continue. Having played the game at the highest level, I have interesting insights about the game and my former teammates, which I love to share with fans,” he added.

From the moment Pujara wore the Indian Test jersey, bowlers feared not his power-hitting but his unique ability to bat for long periods. After Rahul Dravid’s departure, India found its new 'Wall' in Pujara. However, with his retirement, a notable era of Indian Test cricket has ended.