Cheteshwar Pujara, one of India’s finest Test specialists and the backbone of the batting order for more than a decade, has officially retired from all forms of Indian cricket. On 24 August 2025, the 37-year-old made the announcement through a heartfelt post, marking the end of a career defined by grit, patience, and classical batting.
Pujara’s retirement brings down the curtain on an era where he carried forward the legacy of Rahul Dravid at the crucial No. 3 spot. Known for his ability to absorb pressure, take blows on his body, and grind out big scores, he leaves behind remarkable numbers — 103 Tests, 7,195 runs, 19 centuries, and countless match-defining knocks at home and abroad. Beyond Tests, he also featured in ODIs, IPL, and leagues worldwide, but it was the red-ball format where he truly etched his name in Indian cricket history.
Career Summery
- International debut: 2010 (Tests)
- Role: Top-order batter (No. 3 specialist)
- Style: Classical, patient, team-first; successor to the No.3 legacy
- International retirement: Announced 24 August 2025
- Greatest impact: Long Test innings, series wins in Australia, and “daddy hundreds”
International Career – Summary
Pujara never played a T20I for India. Tests were his main format; ODIs were brief.
| Format | Matches | Innings | Runs | Highest Score | Average | Strike Rate | 100s | 50s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tests | 103 | 176 | 7,195 | 206* | 43.60 | 44.36 | 19 | 35 |
| ODIs | 5 | 5 | 51 | 27 | 10.20 | 39.24 | 0 | 0 |
| T20Is | 0 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
Test boundary count: 863 fours, 16 sixes
Test ducks: 12
IPL & Domestic White-Ball
| Competition | Matches | Innings | Runs | HS | Avg | SR | 50s | 4s | 6s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IPL | 30 | 22 | 390 | 51 | 20.53 | 99.75 | 1 | 50 | 4 |
| T20 (Domestic/Leagues) | 71 | – | 1,556 | 100 | – | – | – | – | – |
Note: “T20 (Domestic/Leagues)” is not international T20I; it covers domestic/league T20s outside the IPL as available.
First-Class (Red-Ball) Giant
| Matches | Runs | Highest | Average | 100s | 50s | Triple Hundreds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 278 | 21,301 | 352 | 51.82 | 66 | 81 | 3 |
Cheteshwar Pujara Test Cricket Records
By Opponent (Tests)
| Opponent | Matches | Runs | HS | Average | 100s | 50s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australia | 25 | 2,074 | 204 | 49.38 | 5 | 11 |
| England | 27 | 1,778 | 206* | 39.51 | 5 | 7 |
| Sri Lanka | 7 | 743 | 153 | 74.30 | 4 | 1 |
| Bangladesh | 5 | 468 | 102* | 78.00 | 1 | 5 |
| South Africa | 17 | 882 | 153 | 30.41 | 1 | 6 |
| New Zealand | 12 | 867 | 159 | 39.40 | 2 | 4 |
| West Indies | 9 | 348 | 113 | 34.80 | 1 | 1 |
| Afghanistan | 1 | 35 | 35 | 35.00 | 0 | 0 |
Home vs Away vs Neutral (Tests)
| Venue | Matches | Innings | Not Outs | Runs | HS | Average | 100s | 50s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Home (India) | 51 | 80 | 7 | 3,839 | 206* | 52.58 | 10 | 20 |
| Away | 50 | 92 | 4 | 3,292 | 193 | 37.40 | 9 | 15 |
| Neutral | 2 | 4 | 0 | 64 | 27 | 16.00 | 0 | 0 |
Country-wise Highlights (Tests)
| Country | Matches | Runs | HS | Average | 100s | 50s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| in Australia | 11 | 993 | 193 | 47.28 | 3 | 5 |
| in England | 16 | 870 | 132* | 29.00 | 1 | 5 |
| in Sri Lanka | 4 | 454 | 153 | 90.80 | 3 | 0 |
| in Bangladesh | 2 | 222 | 102* | 74.00 | 1 | 1 |
| in South Africa | 10 | 535 | 153 | 28.15 | 1 | 3 |
| in New Zealand | 4 | 160 | 54 | 20.00 | 0 | 1 |
| in West Indies | 5 | 122 | 46 | 20.33 | 0 | 0 |
| in India | 51 | 3,839 | 206* | 52.58 | 10 | 20 |
Major Test Trophies & Phases
| Competition / Phase | Matches | Runs | HS | Average | 100s | 50s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Border–Gavaskar Trophy | 24 | 2,033 | 204 | 50.82 | 5 | 11 |
| WTC Cycle (2019–2023) | 35 | 1,769 | 102* | 29.98 | 1 | 15 |
| WTC Finals (2021, 2023) | 2 | 64 | 27 | 16.00 | 0 | 0 |
Under Different Captains (Tests)
| Captain | Matches | Runs | HS | Average | 100s | 50s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MS Dhoni | 26 | 1,979 | 206* | 47.11 | 6 | 5 |
| Virat Kohli | 62 | 4,310 | 202 | 43.97 | 12 | 22 |
| KL Rahul | 3 | 278 | 102* | 55.60 | 1 | 2 |
| Ajinkya Rahane | 6 | 368 | 77 | 33.45 | 0 | 4 |
| Rohit Sharma | 5 | 181 | 59 | 25.85 | 0 | 1 |
| Jasprit Bumrah | 1 | 79 | 66 | 39.50 | 0 | 1 |
Signature Series & Iconic Innings (Tests)
- 2018–19 in Australia (Player of the Series): 521 runs, faced 1,258 balls; hundreds in Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney; set up India’s first ever series win in Australia.
- 2020–21 in Australia: Absorbed 928 balls across the four Tests; repeatedly took blows yet held firm as India won another historic series.
- Ranchi 2017 vs Australia: Double hundred after 672 minutes and 525 balls — patience and discipline at their peak.
- Colombo 2015 (opening): 145 off 289* on a tough track, carrying the bat to a famous win.
- Southampton 2018: 132* on a seaming pitch; the next-best score in the match card was 46 — showed technique and temperament.
- Debut impact (Bengaluru 2010): Promoted to No.3 in the 4th innings; 72 at a brisk clip in a successful chase — a sign of things to come.
Read more: – 1 to 100 Jersey Number in Cricket India
Milestones & Notes
- Test career: 103 matches, 19 hundreds, 35 fifties, HS 206*, Avg 43.60.
- One of only three Indians to bat on all five days of a Test (Ranchi 2017 joins M.L. Jaisimha & Ravi Shastri).
- No.3 specialist: Took over the role after Rahul Dravid; built platforms for the middle order with long, grinding stays.
- First-class colossus: 66 centuries, 3 triple-hundreds, 21,301 runs at 51.82.
- White-ball: Brief ODI career (5 matches). No T20Is for India. IPL returns of 390 runs in 30 games; domestic/league T20 tally 1,556 runs with a T20 hundred.
- County & domestic dedication: Continued to score heavily for Saurashtra and in county cricket (multiple stints), keeping the red-ball craft alive.
- Retirement: Announced at age 37 on 24 Aug 2025 with a heartfelt note; widely celebrated by teammates and coaches for grit, humility, and team-first mindset.
Read more : – Tea Break Time in Test Cricket
In Summary
Cheteshwar Pujara’s numbers tell the story of a classic Test batter who valued time at the crease and team results over flair. His best came in the toughest conditions, especially against Australia, and his first-class mountain of runs shows how rare and disciplined his craft truly was.
