Cheteshwar Pujara Retires From All Forms Of Indian Cricket. Cheteshwar Pujara, one of India’s toughest Test batters, has officially announced his retirement from all formats of Indian cricket, ending an impressive career that has been defined by resilience, perseverance, and absolute willpower. He is the 8th highest run getter for India in tests.
Pujara made his Test debut in 2010 against Australia—stepping into the void left by Rahul Dravid—and quickly cemented himself as India’s go-to batsman for over a decade. He played 103 Test matches, where he scored 7,195 runs at an average of 43.6, including 19 hundreds and 35 fifties. Known for his old-school technique and outstanding focus, Pujara was India’s wall at number 3.
| Format | Matches | Runs | Average | 100s | 50s | HS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tests | 103 | 7,195 | 43.6 | 19 | 35 | 206* |
| ODIs | 5 | 51 | 10.2 | 0 | 0 | 27 |
| First-Class | 278 | 21,301 | 51.38 | 66 | 81 | 352 |
Memorable Innings of Pujara
Some of his best innings came in challenging overseas conditions. During the 2012 home Test series against England, he scored a double century in Ahmedabad. He scored a match-winning 204 against Australia in 2013, earning him a spot as one of the best Test batsmen. His 525-ball marathon against Australia in 2017 remains the longest innings by an Indian in Test history.
Probably the greatest legacy he can leave behind would include India’s triumphant 2018-19 Border-Gavaskar Trophy victory in Australia, where he scored 521 runs with 3 centuries and was named Player of the Series. In the 2020-21 series Down Under, he took countless blows from Australia’s fast bowlers, but he didn’t flinch and helped India pull off a famous victory at the Gabba.
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Though his last Test was a loss in the 2023 World Test Championship final, Pujara’s contributions to Indian cricket go well beyond the numbers. He represents the ultimate in resistance at a time when Test cricket comes to increasingly resemble T20 and 50-over cricket.
With Pujara’s retirement, Indian cricket says goodbye to one of the hardest servants to the game we will see. His legacy will live on as a testament to the possibilities of dedication, discipline, and, above all, patience in the longest format of the game.
