Indian Cricket’s Golden Era Ends: From Virat Kohli To Cheteshwar Pujara
Indian cricket has seen legends rise and fade, but few have left a mark as deep as Ravichandran Ashwin, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Cheteshwar Pujara. As the curtains draw on their glorious chapter, fans are not just celebrating numbers and records but reliving moments that redefined resilience, belief, and pride in Test cricket.
Ravichandran Ashwin – The Scientist Who Spun Magic
Ashwin wasn’t just a spinner, he was a thinker. His spells were chess matches, with each delivery a move designed to outwit the batter. From tormenting Australia in Bengaluru 2017 to scoring a century on a dust bowl in Chennai 2021, he made cricket a canvas of art and intellect.
He didn’t just turn the ball, he turned matches and sometimes, entire series. Fans will remember him as the bowler who made spin a weapon of wisdom, proving that brains could be just as lethal as brawn.
Rohit Sharma – The Hitman Who Found His Test Destiny
For years, Rohit Sharma was known as a white-ball wizard. But as an opener in Test cricket, he discovered his second calling. His 161 at Chennai in 2021 was a masterclass in grit; his ton at The Oval on a seamer-friendly pitch later that year was a statement of adaptability.
He gave India the solid starts they had long craved, and in doing so, he rewrote his own cricketing story from a middle-order enigma to a Test cricket mainstay.
Virat Kohli – The King Who Led With Fire
No one played with more intensity than Virat Kohli. His 149 at Edgbaston in 2018, scored under a storm of boos, turned into a standing ovation. His innings at Adelaide in 2014, where he fought alone against a relentless Australian attack, remains etched in memory.
Beyond the runs, Kohli brought attitude – a fearless, aggressive identity that made India believe they could conquer any challenge, anywhere in the world.
Cheteshwar Pujara – The Wall of the Modern Era
If Kohli brought fire, Pujara brought ice. His grit was his weapon, and his defense his legacy. From weathering blows in Johannesburg and Trent Bridge to absorbing body shots at The Gabba in 2021, he proved that patience and pain could pave the path to historic victories.
His knocks weren’t flashy, but they were foundational – the kind on which Test wins are built.
The Legacy That Lives On
Together, these four players gave India moments that fans will cherish forever – sleepless nights during Boxing Day Tests, nail-biting finishes at Lord’s, and unforgettable triumphs in Australia.
They proved that Test cricket isn’t just a format. It’s a test of character. It’s about pride, legacy, and belief.
As Pujara joins Kohli, Ashwin, and Rohit in bidding farewell, it feels like the golden pages of Indian cricket are closing. But their stories, scars, and triumphs will echo in every young cricketer who dares to dream in whites. Icons may retire, but their inspiration is eternal.