Cheteshwar Pujara, the man who became the backbone of India’s Test batting for more than a decade, has announced his retirement from all forms of Indian cricket. The 37-year-old confirmed the news on Sunday through a heartfelt social media post, ending a remarkable career that earned him respect across the cricketing world.
“All good things must come to an end” – Pujara
In his retirement note, Pujara wrote, “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.”
The announcement comes more than two years after his last Test appearance, which was in the World Test Championship final against Australia in June 2023 at The Oval.
A Test Giant for India
Pujara played 103 Tests for India, scoring 7,195 runs at an average of 43.60, with 19 centuries and 35 fifties. Known for his long stay at the crease and his ability to blunt the world’s best fast bowlers, he became the natural successor to Rahul Dravid at the No.3 spot in the batting order.
1️⃣0️⃣3️⃣ Tests
— BCCI (@BCCI) August 24, 2025
7️⃣1️⃣9️⃣5️⃣ Runs
1️⃣6️⃣2️⃣1️⃣7️⃣ Balls Faced
1️⃣9️⃣ Hundreds
3️⃣5️⃣ Half-centuries
One of the grittiest and finest to have ever represented #TeamIndia in Test cricket! 🙌 🙌
Chesteshwar Pujara – Congratulations on a wonderful Test career & best wishes for the road ahead! 👍 👍… pic.twitter.com/pYurWTNYWL
His most memorable performances came in Australia:
- In 2018-19, he was the Player of the Series after scoring 521 runs, helping India register their first-ever Test series win on Australian soil.
- In 2020-21, despite taking countless blows on his body, he stood firm to guide India to another historic series victory in Australia.
First-Class Legend
While his international career was built around Tests, Pujara’s domestic and first-class records are equally extraordinary. He scored more than 21,000 first-class runs with 66 centuries and 3 triple-hundreds, becoming one of India’s greatest ever red-ball run machines.
Brief White-Ball Career
Though he was largely a Test specialist, Pujara also played 5 ODIs for India, scoring 51 runs. In the IPL, he represented Kolkata Knight Riders, Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Punjab Kings, and was also part of the Chennai Super Kings squad in 2021. Across 30 IPL matches, he scored 390 runs, with a best of 51. He also featured in county cricket with Sussex, Yorkshire, Derbyshire, and others, gaining respect for his professionalism and work ethic.
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Tributes Pour In
Pujara’s announcement was followed by a flood of tributes from the cricketing fraternity:
- Anil Kumble praised him as a “great ambassador of the game.”
- Gautam Gambhir called him a fighter who “stood tall when the storm raged.”
- Ajinkya Rahane remembered their partnerships that shaped some of India’s greatest overseas wins.
- Players like R Ashwin, Virender Sehwag, and Yuvraj Singh also hailed his grit and contribution to Indian cricket.
Pujara’s retirement comes close on the heels of other big names stepping away from Test cricket — R Ashwin in 2024, and Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma earlier this year. With his departure, India’s middle order officially turns a new page.
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From a little boy in Rajkot who once scored a triple-century at the Under-14 level, to a modern-day Test warrior who frustrated the best bowlers in the world, Cheteshwar Pujara leaves behind a legacy of patience, discipline, and unshakable commitment to the team’s cause.
As former teammates and coaches say, his numbers are big, but his grit and character on the field are what truly made him a legend.
