Former India pacer Karsan Ghavri suggested that Cheteshwar Pujara’s decision to retire may have stemmed from frustration. The 74-year-old pointed out that any cricketer would naturally feel disheartened after being overlooked despite years of service, and in such cases, it is ultimately the player who bears the brunt of the situation.
Pujara announced his retirement from all forms of Indian cricket on Sunday, concluding an illustrious career. Speaking to Mid-Day, Ghavri shared his thoughts on the matter.
“It’s possible, he [Pujara] may have retired out of frustration. After representing the country for so long, if a player is not getting chances, anyone will be frustrated. Similarly, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma must have felt that frustration too before the recent England tour.”
“The BCCI may have their own ideas, but ultimately, the player suffers. These players are not demanding crores of rupees. It’s all about honour and they all deserved that farewell Test, 110 per cent.”
Cheteshwar Pujara’s final outing for India was during the 2023 World Test Championship final against Australia at The Oval. He has not been included in the West Zone squad for the upcoming Duleep Trophy in Bengaluru.
“Players with 100+ Tests Deserve a Farewell Match”- Ghavri
A recurring issue in the last four Test retirements has been the lack of a farewell match to honour the players’ careers and contributions to Indian cricket. Karsan Ghavri emphasized that any cricketer who has appeared in over 100 Tests should be granted a proper farewell Test.
“All those who have played 100 Tests, should be honoured with a farewell match. The BCCI should have given that honour to Kohli, Rohit and Pujara as they thoroughly deserved it considering their huge contribution to the game.”
“No one wants to end their career like this. If someone has represented the country in 100 or more Tests, it is most definitely a sizeable contribution. He [Pujara] belongs to that distinguished list of players,” he said.
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