Cheteshwar Pujara, India’s dependable No.3 batter, has brought down the curtains on a career built on patience, grit, and match-winning partnerships. Known as the “wall” of the modern Indian Test team, Pujara’s story is filled with centuries that shaped India’s greatest red-ball moments.
Cheteshwar Pujara Test Career Highlights
- Matches Played: 103
- Runs Scored: 7,195
- Batting Average: 43.60
- Pujara Centuries: 19
- Half-Centuries: 35
- Highest Score: 206*
Pujara’s batting was never about flashy shots but about soaking pressure, frustrating bowlers, and building partnerships. His ability to bat for long hours made him the backbone of India’s middle order.
Read more: – Cheteshwar Pujara Stas and Records in all formats
Memorable Centuries
- 2012 vs England, Ahmedabad: His first double century (206*) which stamped his arrival as Rahul Dravid’s successor at No.3.
- 2013 vs Australia, Hyderabad: Another double hundred (204) that helped India dominate the series.
- 2017 vs Australia, Ranchi: A marathon 202 runs, batting for more than 11 hours, showing his trademark patience.
- 2018-19 Australia Tour: Three centuries in Adelaide, Melbourne, and Sydney (521 runs in the series) — winning him the Player of the Series and leading India to their first-ever Test series victory in Australia.
These knocks defined his career and earned him respect from opponents worldwide, especially the Australians who often admitted that his wicket was the toughest to get.
Read more: – Cheteshwar Pujara Announces Retirement from All Forms
His Last Test Match
Pujara’s last Test for India came in the World Test Championship Final against Australia at The Oval, London, in June 2023. India lost the match, but Pujara’s presence at the crease reminded everyone of his role as the side’s crisis man.
Although he didn’t finish with a big score in that final, his overall contribution across more than a decade ensured India’s rise as a strong Test side both at home and abroad.
Career in T20s and ODI
Cheteshwar Pujara may not have played flashy T20s or had a long ODI career, but in Tests, he was India’s “marathon man.” With 19 centuries, 35 fifties, and thousands of deliveries faced, he taught the art of patience in an era dominated by fast runs and power-hitting.
Read more: – Indian Cricket Team Coaches
Conclusion
Cheteshwar Pujara’s Test career will always be remembered for its determination and old-school batting charm. His centuries inspired India’s greatest overseas wins and his last match in the 2023 WTC Final marked the end of a golden era.
For many cricket fans, the real man of the match in those historic series — especially the 2018-19 and 2020-21 wins in Australia — was always Pujara, the unsung warrior who never gave up his wicket easily.
