R Ashwin: 'Cheteshwar Pujara's contribution no less than Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli'

R Ashwin has highlighted how Cheteshwar Pujara's defensive batting prowess at No. 3 position played a crucial role in Virat Kohli's success as a number four batter in Test cricket over the past decade. Pujara, who announced his retirement after 20 years in professional cricket, was recognised as one of India's most reliable Test batters, matching Kohli's run-scoring abilities and even surpassing his averages in subcontinental conditions.Ashwin drew a parallel between Pujara and the 'White Walker' character from the Game of Thrones, acknowledging his methodical approach to batting and unwavering presence at the crease."The cricket-loving public definitely knows the contribution of Cheteshwar Pujara. If you guys have seen Game of Thrones, there is a character of a white walker. I termed Pujara a white walker. He walks slowly but never leaves the field," said Ashwin.Pujara's resilience was particularly evident during the historic 2018-19 Border-Gavaskar Trophy, where India secured their first-ever Test series victory in Australia. His performances during two consecutive Australian tours between 2018 and 2021 demonstrated his ability to succeed in challenging conditions.Ashwin recalled a notable instance from the 2018 Wanderers Test in South Africa, where Pujara faced a formidable pace attack comprising Kagiso Rabada, Vernon Philander, and Morne Morkel. On a challenging pitch, Pujara took 54 deliveries to score his first run but persevered for 179 balls."Pujara's contribution at No. 3, if you agree or don't, was instrumental in helping Virat Kohli also make a lot of his runs, and I have one such case as an example. In the final Test against South Africa at the Wanderers, where the pitch was deemed too dangerous at one stage, Pujara played 53 balls before he got off the mark. A thankless job, a really, really, spiteful Wanderers pitch, the ball was going all over the place," Ashwin explained on his YouTube channel.That particular Test match saw India setting a target of 241 runs for South Africa, which proved sufficient for victory, aided by Mohammed Shami's five-wicket haul in the second innings.Ashwin pointed out that Pujara's defensive technique, while not receiving the same social media attention as more aggressive batting styles, deserved recognition for its technical excellence."Pujara is one such guy, when he bats it looks like a symphony. You may see reels on Instagram, edits like Virat's cover drive, Rohit Sharma's pull shot, MS Dhoni's Helicopter Shot, but Pujara's defence, even that has to be featured with music and all that," Ashwin remarked.In his tribute to Pujara's career, Ashwin emphasised the significant impact the batter had on Indian cricket."He is a Test legend, absolute massive legend of Indian cricket, his contribution is no less than anyone else. I would put my head on the block, his contribution is not less than anyone else, whether it be Virat, or Rohit, or anybody," Ashwin concluded.