India’s dependable Test batter Cheteshwar Pujara has announced his retirement from all forms of Indian cricket. The 37-year-old made the announcement on X (formerly Twitter), expressing gratitude for his long international career.
“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.
Pujara, who made his debut in 2010, represented India in 103 Tests and 5 ODIs, scoring 7,195 Test runs at an average of 43.60, including 19 centuries and 35 fifties. At home, he was particularly prolific, amassing 3,839 runs at an average of 52.58. His final appearance came in the World Test Championship final against Australia at The Oval in June 2023.
For over a decade, Pujara served as India’s rock at No. 3, playing key roles in historic wins both at home and overseas. Notable innings include his double century against England in Mumbai (2012), a gritty 153 in Johannesburg (2013), a fighting 145 in Colombo (2015), and his unbeaten 132 on a seaming track in Southampton (2018). He is also among the few Indians to have batted on all five days of a Test.
Pujara was pivotal to India’s back-to-back Test series triumphs in Australia. In 2018-19, he scored three centuries en route to India’s first-ever series win Down Under. In the 2020-21 series, he faced 928 deliveries across four Tests, absorbing countless body blows but holding firm to script one of India’s greatest overseas victories in Brisbane.
Even after being sidelined from the national team, Pujara continued to play red-ball cricket for Saurashtra and Sussex in the County Championship, showcasing his love for the longer format.
With his retirement, Indian cricket bids farewell to one of its most resilient and determined batters, often hailed as the “Wall 2.0” after Rahul Dravid.
