Cheteshwar Pujara hangs up his boots, bringing a close to illustrious test career

Cheteshwar Pujara, widely regarded as the last of India’s Test purists, has announced his retirement from all forms of Indian cricket on Sunday, August 24, 2025. The 37-year-old batter made the announcement through a heartfelt social media post, bringing a close to his illustrious career that spanned over a decade.

“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.Thank you for all the love and support!.,” Pujara posted pn social media platform X.

Career Stats: Over 103 Test matches, he amassed 7,195 runs at an average of 43.60, including 19 centuries. He also featured in five ODIs

Signature Series: His defining moment came during India’s historic 2018–19 Test series victory in Australia, where he scored 521 runs in seven innings, earning Player of the Series honors

Pujara was known for his rock-solid technique and immense patience, often referred to as a modern-day “wall” in the mold of Rahul Dravid. His resilience and ability to wear down opposition bowlers were instrumental in India’s success, particularly in overseas Test matches.

Key Career Highlights:

Test Matches: 103

Test Runs: 7,195 at an average of 43.61

Centuries: 19

Half-Centuries: 35

Highest Score: 206*

First-Class Cricket: 21,301 runs at an average of 51.82, with 66 centuries.

Pujara’s career will be most remembered for his monumental performances in Australia, where his gritty batting played a pivotal role in India’s historic back-to-back Test series victories in 2018-19 and 2020-21. He holds the record for the most balls faced by an Indian in a single Test series and is one of the only Indian batsmen to have batted on all five days of a Test match.

His last international appearance was in the World Test Championship final against Australia in June 2023. While he had been out of the national team since then, he continued to play in domestic and county cricket. His retirement comes shortly after two other Indian stalwarts, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, announced their goodbyes to Test cricket earlier this year.

Pujara’s departure marks the end of an era for Indian cricket, leaving a legacy defined by discipline, fortitude, and a deep respect for the traditional values of Test cricket.

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