Cheteshwar Pujara, India’s stalwart at number three, has hinted at exploring coaching opportunities or contributing to the BCCI’s National Cricket Academy after his retirement from all forms of cricket. Speaking to PTI, Pujara reflected on his 103-Test career, which yielded over 7,000 runs, his memorable series wins in Australia, and the support from his late mother and father.

β€œπ‘°β€™π’—π’† π’†π’π’‹π’π’šπ’†π’… 𝒕𝒉𝒆 π’ƒπ’“π’π’‚π’…π’„π’‚π’”π’•π’Šπ’π’ˆ π’˜π’π’“π’Œ 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒔𝒖𝒓𝒆. 𝑺𝒐, 𝑰’𝒍𝒍 π’…π’†π’‡π’Šπ’π’Šπ’•π’†π’π’š π’„π’π’π’•π’Šπ’π’–π’† π’…π’π’Šπ’π’ˆ 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕. 𝑾𝒉𝒆𝒏 π’Šπ’• π’„π’π’Žπ’†π’” 𝒕𝒐 π’„π’π’‚π’„π’‰π’Šπ’π’ˆ 𝒐𝒓 π’‚π’π’š π’˜π’π’“π’Œ 𝒂𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑡π‘ͺ𝑨, 𝑰’𝒍𝒍 𝒃𝒆 𝒐𝒑𝒆𝒏 𝒕𝒐 π’Šπ’•,” 𝑷𝒖𝒋𝒂𝒓𝒂 𝒓𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒂𝒍𝒆𝒅.

He added, β€œI haven’t genuinely thought about it. Whenever there is any opportunity which arises, I’ll try and take a call then… In whatever manner I can contribute to Indian cricket, I’ll be more than happy to do so.”

Classical Test Batting Still Has Value

While acknowledging that the modern game emphasizes aggression, especially in white-ball cricket, Pujara believes classical Test match batting still has its place. Commentating during India’s recent series in England, he praised the calm approach of openers like K L Rahul.

β€œπ‘° 𝒅𝒐𝒏’𝒕 π’•π’‰π’Šπ’π’Œ 𝑰 π’‚π’Ž 𝒔𝒂𝒅 𝒂𝒃𝒐𝒖𝒕 π’Šπ’•. 𝑰 π’”π’•π’Šπ’π’ 𝒇𝒆𝒆𝒍 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒏 π’Šπ’ 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒄𝒖𝒓𝒓𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝒆𝒓𝒂, 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆 π’Šπ’” 𝒔𝒄𝒐𝒑𝒆 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒂 π’„π’π’‚π’”π’”π’Šπ’„π’‚π’ 𝑻𝒆𝒔𝒕 π’Žπ’‚π’•π’„π’‰ π’‘π’π’‚π’šπ’†π’“. 𝑩𝒖𝒕 π’•π’Šπ’Žπ’†π’” 𝒉𝒂𝒗𝒆 π’„π’‰π’‚π’π’ˆπ’†π’…. 𝑢𝒏𝒆 𝒏𝒆𝒆𝒅𝒔 𝒕𝒐 π’Žπ’π’—π’† 𝒐𝒏 π’˜π’Šπ’•π’‰ 𝒕𝒉𝒆 π’•π’Šπ’Žπ’†,” 𝑷𝒖𝒋𝒂𝒓𝒂 π’”π’‚π’Šπ’….

He also stressed the importance for young players to adapt to all formats, noting, β€œYou should choose playing all three formats of this game because we are seeing more white-ball cricket now. When you perform well in white-ball cricket, you are automatically given a chance to represent the Indian Test team.”

Encouraging Signs From Young Players

Pujara highlighted examples like Abhimanyu Easwaran and Karun Nair, who earned Test selection through strong performances in the Ranji Trophy, showing that traditional techniques still get rewarded.

β€œHe [K L Rahul] is one of the best Test batters we have currently in the squad… technically correct and setting the foundation for the team. Hope he carries on like that not just in Test cricket but in other formats as well,” Pujara added.

Despite leaving the game, Pujara emphasizes that he wants to remain connected to cricket in any capacity, whether through coaching, mentorship, or broadcasting.

Also Read: Virat Kohli β€˜Unsettled’, MS Dhoni β€˜Not Bothered’: Neil Wagner Reveals Striking Contrast

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