Former Indian head coach Ravi Shastri showered praise on Cheteshwar Pujara after the veteran batter decided to call time on his career on Sunday. Shastri said Pujara was a real warrior, who fought for the team in every situation.

Pujara played 103 Tests and 5 ODIs for India after making his debut back in 2010. He scored 7,195 Test runs at an average of 43.60, with 19 hundreds and 35 fifties.

Shastri said Pujara played an instrumental role in India’s success on the Australian tours of 2018-19 and 2020-21. Pujara scored 521 runs in four Test matches against the Aussies at an average of 74.43, including three centuries and thus was awarded Player of the Series. 

On the 2020-21 tour of Australia, Pujara amassed 271 runs in four Test matches at an average of 33.88. Pujara took blows on his body during the historic Gabba Test, in which he scored 56 runs off 211 balls. 

“A real warrior. He was instrumental in my stint as coach for India, being the No. 1 side for 5 years on the trot and the 2 back to back series wins in Australia, where he was simply brilliant,” Shastri tweeted on Sunday afternoon.

Overall, Pujara finishes with 21301 runs from 278 first-class games at an average of 51.82 and 66 hundreds and three triple hundreds.

Pujara wrote on X on Sunday, “Wearing the Indian jersey, singing the anthem, and trying my best each time I stepped on the field – it’s impossible to put into words what it truly meant. But as they say, all good things must come to an end, and with immense gratitude I have decided to retire from all forms of Indian cricket. Thank you for all the love and support!”

Pujara was recently seen doing the commentary stint during the five-match Test series against England.