In the last twenty years, Indian cricket has had many flamboyant and aggressive batters rise to the top. In the cacophony of all that, there is perhaps nothing more admirable than standing tall with a sense of patience, grit, and a no-nonsense attitude -namely, Cheteshwar Pujara. On August 24, 2025, Pujara announced that he would be retiring from all formats of cricket ending a wonderful career of over fifteen years on the international number one stage.
In his heartfelt farewell post, Pujara said:
“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. 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.”
With this, India says goodbye to a modern-era great in the most reliable Test match specialist.
Born on January 25, 1988, in Rajkot, Cheteshwar Pujara carried the heavy tag of being the “next Rahul Dravid” early in his career. Making his Test debut in 2010 against Australia at Bangalore, Pujara quickly established himself as a reliable No. 3 batsman, the anchor around whom India’s batting line-up could revolve. While Pujara’s attitude towards the game may have generally favoured aggressive stroke play he often garnered headlines, but he made his game on perfect technique, thorough patience to play many balls, and remarkable mental fortitude to endure the tough times.
He became the backbone of India’s batting line-up on tours and particularly when challenging conditions were encountered in England, South Africa and Australia..
Career Achievements
| Format | Matches | Runs | Average | 100s / 50s | Highest Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tests | 103 | 7,195 | 43.6 | 19 / 35 | 206* |
| ODIs | 5 | 51 | 10.2 | 0 / 0 | 27 |
| T20Is | – | – | – | – | – |
| First-Class | 260+ | 19,000+ | 51+ | 60+ / 70+ | 352 |
Chateshwar Pujara Test Cricket Records
2010 versus Australia, Bengaluru: Scored 72 (2nd innings) – his 1st innings was a statement innings on a successful chase.
2012 versus England, Ahmedabad: Scored 206*- his first Test double hundred. He batted for a long period.
2013 versus Australia, Hyderabad: Scored 204 – a long innings putting pressure on Australia.
2017 versus Australia, Ranchi: Scored 202 – off 525 balls- India’s longest innings in Test match; helped India be in a position to draw the match to save the Test series.
2018/19 versus Australia, Adelaide: 123 & 71- Enough to help India accomplish the dream of winning a Test series in Australia.
Pujara, in a note, thanked his teammates, coaches, and fans for their support throughout his journey, and as boring as it may sound, it certainly has delivered the conclusion of an era for India cricket, particularly in the Test match format. Pujara will always be remembered for his temperament, dependability against the best bowlers, and technical ability to balance patience and aggression, and will no doubt inspire future generations of cricketers for years to come.
