India, Aug. 24 -- Former Team India head coach Ravi Shastri reserved some special words for Cheteshwar Pujara after the latter called time on his Indian cricket career on Sunday. The right-handed batter, 37, represented India in 103 Tests and 5 ODIs, scoring more than 7,000 runs across the two formats of the game. Making his debut in 2010, Pujara went on to smash 19 centuries and 35 fifties in international cricket. His exploits were the major reason behind India winning back-to-back Test series Down Under in 2018-19 and 2020-21.

In the 2020-21 tour of Australia, Pujara kept on taking body blows as he refused to give his wicket away. In the Gabba Test, which India famously won against all odds, the right-hander was struck on the body on ...