NEW DELHI: Cheteshwar Pujara's retirement from all forms of cricket drew an emotional response from his wife Puja Pabari, who took to Instagram to pen a heartfelt note. In her message, she praised the 37-year-old's calm and dignified journey in the sport.

"'Be in the present as the present is the present of the supreme presence' - a guiding principle of the Bhagavad Gita which is something you have been living by for quite sometime now, and hope it continues to guide you in this next phase!" she wrote on Instagram.

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"As you bid goodbye to your first love, passion and the sport you love so much, I am glad you always gave it your all and played the game in your own calm and dignified way!"

She also shared how his journey in cricket helped shape her own perspective of the sport: "From knowing nothing about cricket to loving you and the sport through your eyes - your journey has been a true education in life's lessons for me, and I couldn't be more grateful to have gone through the highs and lows of your career together!"

"I will miss cheering you on the field, following the unshakeable routines, and at times maybe also the anxiousness before a match/series. For all the missed celebrations and adjustments made in order to prioritise cricket, let’s make up for it now."

Pujara, 37, represented India in 103 Tests and 5 ODIs since making his debut in 2010. He amassed 7,195 Test runs at an average of 43.60, which included 19 centuries and 35 half-centuries.

"Wearing the Indian jersey, singing the anthem, and trying my best each time I stepped on the field - it's impossible to put into words what it truly meant," Pujara posted on X. "But as they say, all good things must come to an end, and with immense gratitude I have decided to retire from all forms of Indian cricket. Thank you for all the love and support!", Pujara shared the news through a heartfelt post on social media.

The Rajkot-born batter will forever be remembered for his resilience at No. 3, especially his heroics in India’s historic 2018-19 Test series win in Australia.