Published on: Aug 25, 2025 4:56 pm IST|Updated on: Aug 25, 2025 4:56 pm IST
Dusk has fallen for the Indian Test specialist Cheteshwar Pujara. The 37-year-old has decided to hang up his boots on August 24, 2025, from all forms of Indian cricket. He took to his official X account to announce his call. He wrote,
“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.”
Cheteshwar Pujara is one of the most decorated Test cricketers India has produced. A veteran of 103 Test matches, the right-hand batter was the most dependable batter for India at no. 3 for a fairly long period of time. He made his test debut against Australia in Bengaluru in 2010 and scored a fifty in his debut game.
Talking about his Test numbers, the 37-year-old scored 7,195 Test runs at an average of 43.60, with 19 hundreds and 35 fifties. He was prolific at home rather than away from home. At home, Pujara scored 3839 runs from 80 innings at an impressive average of 52.59. His last Test appearance was the World Test Championship final against Australia at the Oval in June 2023.
Here’s a breakdown of Pujara’s numbers in the longest format of the game.
In a staggering career of 103 Tests, the Saurashtra batter has played many memorable innings. His debut Test ton came against New Zealand in Hyderabad, 2 years after his Test debut, i.e., in August 2012. It took him 19 innings to score his first ton, but his maiden double ton took only 2 more months. He scored his first double ton in a home Test in October against England. Let’s take a look at 5 of his most memorable Test knocks.
This was Pujara’s maiden double century. Batting for nearly 11 hours, he scored an unbeaten 206 off 389 balls, anchoring India to a mammoth 521/8 declared. His grit to stand at the wicket for hours made him a wall at no. 3 for India. This knock set the tone for India’s nine-wicket win and cemented his place at No. 3.
On a spicy Wanderers pitch against a world-class pace attack including Dale Steyn, Morne Morkel, and Vernon Philander, Pujara’s 153 off 270 balls was a masterclass in overseas conditions. The pace and bounce of the Wanderers was tough to tackle for the Indian batters, but Pujara had different ideas that day. He stitched a 222-run stand with Kohli (96 off 193) and helped India set a daunting target. The match ended in a thrilling draw, but Pujara’s knock stood out for its courage and control.
In one of the longest innings ever by an Indian batter, Pujara faced 525 balls to score 202. His marathon effort helped India post 603/9 in response to Australia’s 451. It was a classic example of grinding down the opposition and remains the only known instance of an Indian facing over 500 balls in a Test innings.
In the opening Test of India’s historic first-ever historic series win Down Under, Pujara scored a gritty 123 in the first innings and followed it up with 71 in the second. His calm under pressure helped India win by 31 runs and set the tone for their first-ever Test series victory in Australia.
With wickets tumbling around him, Pujara stood tall with an unbeaten 132 off 257 balls. He batted for nearly six hours, showcasing his ability to absorb pressure and play the long game. Though India lost the match, his knock was a lone beacon of resistance and also his only Test ton on English soil.
After a decorated Test career, Cheteshwar Pujara seems to be drifting towards broadcasting and commentary. Before announcing his sudden retirement, Pujara was expected to feature for Saurashtra in the upcoming 2025-26 Ranji Trophy season. However, having stepped back now, Pujara’s sole motive for now seems to be broadcasting. He was active with Star Sports Network as an on-air commentator during the recently concluded India’s Tour of England and is expected to reprise his newly found role for the foreseeable future.