"Look forward to contributing lots more" - Pujara on finishing a decade as India cricketer 

Cheteshwar Pujara has so far played 77 Tests with 5,840 runs at an average of 48.66.

By Kashish Chadha - 10 Oct, 2020

India batsman Cheteshwar Pujara promised to continue working hard and contributing to the team as he completed a decade as a Test cricketer. 

Pujara also thanked fans for their love and support throughout the last ten years and hoped they'll remain in his side as long as he bats at the top-level for the country. 

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A prolific run-scorer at the first-class level from an early age, Pujara made his Test debut for India against Australia in the Bangalore Test of the 2010 series with a very fine knock of 72 in his team's victory. 

The 32-year-old No.3 batsman has now featured in 77 Tests with 5,840 runs at an average of 48.66, including 18 hundreds and 25 half-centuries.

Pujara is among the rare Indian batsmen to have scored a ton each in South Africa, England and Australia. 

In Australia, Pujara had a legendary last trip, scoring 521 runs, comprising hundreds in Adelaide, Melbourne and Sydney, at an average of 74.43 to help India clinch maiden Test series win down under in 2018-19 season. 

"Truly privileged and blessed to have completed 10 yrs as an Indian cricketer," he tweeted on Friday (October 9). "Growing up playing cricket in Rajkot all those years back, under the watchful eyes of my father, I would never have imagined the journey would bring me here. Thank you for all the support and wishes. Look forward to contributing lots more to the team."

Pujara, amusingly, has one other reason to remember the date of his Test debut. 

"P.S. Coincidentally, today also happens to be the wife's birthday, so Puja has ensured I will never forget this date," he wrote. 

By Kashish Chadha - 10 Oct, 2020

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