'Always reassuring to see you walk out at No.3': Sachin Tendulkar leads tributes after Cheteshwar Pujara retires

NEW DELHI: Legendary batter Sachin Tendulkar led the tributes on Sunday as Cheteshwar Pujara, India’s modern-day wall at No.3, announced his retirement from international cricket. Hailing the Saurashtra batter for his grit and classical approach, Tendulkar called Pujara’s career a testament to “calm, courage, and a deep love for Test cricket.”Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!“Pujara, it was always reassuring to see you walk out at No.3. You brought calm, courage, and a deep love for Test cricket every time you played. Your solid technique, patience, and composure under pressure have been a pillar for the team,” Tendulkar wrote on X, underlining the quiet assurance Pujara offered Indian fans and teammates alike.Tendulkar singled out Pujara’s heroic role in India’s historic 2018–19 Test series win in Australia, where he faced more than 1,200 deliveries and scored 521 runs, including a match-turning marathon century in Adelaide. “Out of many, the 2018 series win in Australia stands out, it wouldn’t have been possible without your incredible resilience and match-winning runs. Congratulations on a wonderful career. Good luck for the next chapter. Enjoy your second innings!” he added.Pujara, 37, bowed out after 103 Tests, with 7,195 runs at an average of 43.60, featuring 19 centuries and 35 half-centuries. He is India’s eighth-highest run-getter in the longest format and was pivotal in landmark overseas triumphs, including series wins in Australia and memorable battles in England and South Africa.For Tendulkar and many others, Pujara’s legacy lies not just in numbers, but in the assurance that whenever India needed resistance, he would stand tall.