On August 24, 2025, Cheteshwar Pujara—India’s modern-day bulwark in Test cricket—announced his retirement from all forms of Indian cricket, drawing the curtain on a storied red-ball career that spanned more than a decade. He shared the news on social media with a note of gratitude and humility, writing, “Wearing the Indian jersey… with immense gratitude I have decided to retire,” a line that encapsulates his understated class and lifelong commitment to the longest format.
The Announcement and Immediate Reactions
Pujara confirmed his decision via a heartfelt post on X/Instagram, thanking teammates, coaches, fans, the BCCI, and his domestic side Saurashtra. Leading outlets from ESPNcricinfo, Hindustan Times, Times of India, Economic Times, and the ICC reported the development within minutes, underlining his significance to Indian cricket’s Test identity. The consensus: this is not just the retirement of a player—it marks the end of a philosophy forged in patience, discipline, and unflinching resolve.
Career Snapshot: Numbers that Tell the Story
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Tests: 103 matches, 7,195 runs, 19 centuries, average ~43.6, HS 206.
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ODIs: 5 matches.
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First-class: Over 21,000 runs, averaging above 50, with a mountain of centuries.
The raw numbers reinforce what the eye always saw: an unshakeable No. 3 whose technique, temperament, and time-on-task gave India a platform at home and away. His final Test appearance came at the World Test Championship Final (2023) vs Australia, after which he continued to feature in domestic and county cricket before stepping away.
The Defining Chapters
1) Australia 2018–19: The Series That Sealed His Legend
The 2018–19 Border-Gavaskar Trophy remains Pujara’s magnum opus. Across four Tests, he produced 521 runs at a series-defining average, including centuries at Adelaide (123), Melbourne (106), and a monumental 193 at Sydney, earning both Player of the Match (SCG) and Player of the Series as India clinched a historic 2–1 win—its first-ever Test series victory in Australia.
Those knocks weren’t flashy; they were fortresses. At Adelaide, he blunted Australia’s pace attack with a classic 123 and a gritty 71 to set up the match. In Melbourne, he wore down the hosts with 106. And at the SCG, he sculpted 193 across 373 balls, absorbing pressure to the point of exhaustion for the bowlers. This was Pujara at his purest—relentless leaves, soft hands, a still head, and ironclad concentration.
2) Australia 2020–21: Bruised, Not Broken
If 2018–19 was about run-gluttony, 2020–21 was about courage. At Gabba, Brisbane, Pujara absorbed a barrage of blows yet held India together with a gritty half-century as India broke Australia’s 32-year unbeaten streak at the venue to win the series 2–1. It wasn’t his highest score, but it may be his most unforgettable: a masterclass in intent through defence.
Technique and Temperament: The Cathedral of Patience
Pujara’s batting was architecture. He built sessions, not spurts; partnerships, not punchlines. At No. 3, he faced more balls than almost anyone of his generation for India, consistently wearing attacks down—particularly crucial overseas where a new-ball storm often decides matches before lunch. His method:
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Compact technique: Close bat-pad alignment, late contact, and soft hands that killed seam movement.
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Leave as a scoring shot: By ignoring temptation outside off, he forced bowlers to come straighter, enabling risk-managed scoring options.
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Session-by-session targets: His focus on mini-battles—first 30 balls, then the next spell—made him a captain’s dream in Test cricket.
In an era tilted toward white-ball pyrotechnics, Pujara preserved the red-ball grammar of occupation and attrition. That grammar is why captains set funky fields for stroke-makers—but moved their slips wider when Pujara was 80 off 240, eroding energy and ego.
Role in India’s Overseas Evolution
India’s surge as a consistent overseas force—from South Africa and England to Australia—owed much to bowling depth. But Pujara’s ability to turn 20/2 into 220/3 mattered just as much. He stitched time with Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, Rishabh Pant and others, ensuring India seldom batted in panic. His stoicism created oxygen for the stroke-players at the other end.
Leadership by Example: Domestic and County Craft
Before and beyond India colors, Pujara was a Saurashtra stalwart and a consummate pro in English county cricket (notably with Sussex). In first-class cricket, he piled up 21,000+ runs at above 50—a staggering testament to longevity and skill on often bowler-friendly surfaces. Young batters from India’s domestic system routinely cite his practice habits—shadow batting, red-ball simulation, and old-school volume—as formative. Wikipedia
Legacy: India’s Test Compass
What will endure is not just the three-figure knocks but what they symbolized. Pujara became synonymous with grind over glamour. He wasn’t auditioning for a highlights reel; he was auditioning for day five. He may not have owned the Indian Premier League narrative, but he owned Indian Test match afternoons, those long stretches when resolve—not range-hitting—decides the arc of a series.
It’s also telling that on the day he retired, the cricket world’s immediate refrain was respect—from fans who learned to love blocks and leaves as much as cover-drives, and from peers who knew how hard it is to keep your game—and your heartbeat—quiet for hours.
The Retirement Post: An Understated Goodbye
The essence of Pujara’s message was gratitude: to the Indian jersey, to the anthem, and to the support system that kept him grounded—family, coaches, teammates, and supporters. It echoed his career tone: say little, mean a lot. Multiple outlets carried excerpts, and the ICC amplified his statement, capturing the mood of a dignified farewell.
Where Does Pujara Rank Among India’s Great No. 3s?
Comparisons with Rahul Dravid are unavoidable. While careers and contexts differ, both men transformed time at the crease into a weapon. Pujara’s 7,195 Test runs, 19 hundreds, and his two epochal Australia tours place him among India’s most influential Test anchors, particularly away from home. He leaves as India’s eighth-highest Test run-scorer, a mark that underscores just how consistently he delivered in the toughest format.
What Comes Next?
Pujara’s future could include coaching, mentorship, and red-ball evangelism. Given his county stints and deep technical base, he’s a natural fit to help India’s next generation handle seam, swing, and patience. Quietly, he’s already been that figure in dressing rooms—expect that role to formalize in some capacity.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q1: When did Cheteshwar Pujara announce his retirement?
A: August 24, 2025, via a social media post.
Q2: Did he retire from just international cricket or all forms?
A: He announced retirement from all forms of Indian cricket.
Q3: What are his career Test numbers?
A: 103 Tests, 7,195 runs, 19 hundreds, average ~43.6, HS 206.
Q4: What’s his most memorable series?
A: Australia 2018–19, where he scored 521 runs with centuries at Adelaide, Melbourne, and a 193 at Sydney—earning Player of the Series.
Q5: Why is the 2020–21 Gabba Test often cited with Pujara?
A: He absorbed numerous body blows yet batted through to help India secure a historic series win and end Australia’s long unbeaten Gabba streak.
Timeline: Milestones that Shaped Pujara’s Journey
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2010: Test debut vs Australia in Bengaluru.
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2012–13: Early double hundreds vs England and Australia showcase his appetite for big scores.
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2017: Record-breaking Indian first-class season; Test hundreds in Sri Lanka.
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2018–19: Historic Australia tour—521 runs, Player of the Series.
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2020–21: Gabba heroics as India win again in Australia.
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2023: Last India appearance at the WTC Final vs Australia.
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2025: Announces retirement from all forms of Indian cricket.
Conclusion: The Quiet Thunder of a Test Great
Cheteshwar Pujara’s retirement is a reminder that Test cricket’s soul lives in patience. He taught a generation that you can dictate terms without hitting in the air, that leaving can be a form of scoring, and that time, when harnessed well, is the most brutal shot of them all. In the ledger of Indian Test cricket, Pujara’s column is heavy with sessions saved, attacks blunted, tours transformed. The numbers will remain; the feeling of calm he brought to a dressing room under fire will, too.
As India looks ahead, it does so on pathways Pujara helped clear—quietly, brick by brick, session by session.
