New Delhi: India’s Test mainstay bids farewell
Veteran India batter Cheteshwar Pujara on Sunday announced his retirement from all forms of cricket, bringing the curtain down on a two-decade-long career. Pujara, who last played for India in the 2023 World Test Championship final against Australia at The Oval, confirmed the decision through an emotional social media post.
“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,” Pujara wrote on X, attaching a detailed statement thanking his teammates, coaches, family, and fans.
Career at a glance
Pujara, 36, retires as India’s eighth-highest run-getter in Test cricket, amassing 7,195 runs in 103 Tests at an average of 43.60. His tally includes 19 centuries and 35 half-centuries, many of them in crucial overseas wins.
He also represented India in five ODIs but carved his reputation as a red-ball specialist.
Iconic moments in Indian cricket
For more than a decade, Pujara was the rock at No. 3 in India’s Test batting line-up. Among his most memorable achievements was the 2018-19 Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia, where he scored 521 runs, including three centuries, facing over 1,200 balls to anchor India’s first-ever Test series win Down Under. His batting in that series was widely compared to Sunil Gavaskar’s iconic 774-run tally against the West Indies in 1970/71.
Pujara also played a key role in India’s repeat series win in Australia in 2020/21, grinding out three fifties under testing conditions.
Domestic and first-class giant
Beyond international cricket, Pujara’s record in domestic and county cricket is extraordinary. In first-class cricket, he scored a staggering 21,301 runs at 51.82, with 66 hundreds, including 18 double centuries – the fifth most in history.
He was also the first Indian to score three triple centuries, a feat later matched only by his Saurashtra teammate Ravindra Jadeja.
In the 2023-24 Ranji Trophy season, he continued to display his hunger, scoring a double century against Chhattisgarh. He also played county cricket for Sussex in England, scoring 501 runs in six matches.
Final appearances
Pujara’s last competitive outing came in February this year, during the Ranji Trophy quarterfinal against Gujarat, where he scored 26 and 2 for Saurashtra.
Despite strong performances in domestic cricket, he was not recalled to the Indian Test side after June 2023. Just three months ago, he had expressed his desire to return for India’s tour of England, but the selectors chose a younger squad.
Conclusion
Cheteshwar Pujara’s retirement closes the chapter on one of India’s most resolute Test careers. Known for his patience, grit, and classical technique, he stood as the bedrock of Indian batting for over a decade. His contributions, particularly in overseas victories, will remain etched in Indian cricket history.