In a touching tribute, Virat Kohli expressed his gratitude to Cheteshwar Pujara for their successful partnership in the Indian Test cricket team. Kohli acknowledged how Pujara's presence at number four made his role significantly easier over the years.

Pujara, who announced his retirement on Sunday, began his international career in 2010 against Australia in Bengaluru. Kohli took to Instagram to share his appreciation, stating, "Thank you for making my job easier at number 4, Pujji. You’ve had an incredible career. Congratulations and best wishes for your future endeavors. God bless @cheteshwarpujara."

Throughout their time together, Kohli and Pujara amassed a remarkable 3,513 runs in 83 Test innings, achieving seven century partnerships and 18 half-century stands, with an impressive average of 43.37.

Pujara's retirement has sparked a wave of respect from the cricket community, with former teammates and coaches praising his dedication and resilience throughout his career. He played 103 Tests, accumulating 7,195 runs at an average of 43.60, including 19 centuries and 35 half-centuries.

As a key player in Kohli's Test squad, Pujara played a pivotal role in India's historic victory in Australia during the 2018-19 Border-Gavaskar Trophy, scoring 521 runs in seven innings. In the subsequent 2020-21 series, he contributed 271 runs across four matches.

In first-class cricket, Pujara has participated in 278 matches, scoring 21,301 runs with a remarkable average of 51.82, including 66 centuries and 81 half-centuries. His last appearance for India was during the World Test Championship final against Australia in 2023.