After legendary batsman Rahul Dravid, if anyone was called the “new wall” of India’s Test team, it was Cheteshwar Pujara. But now, that wall has also fallen. Cheteshwar Pujara has announced his retirement from all forms of cricket. He will not be seen playing international cricket or professional domestic cricket anymore. Pujara last played for India in the World Test Championship Final 2023.
Retirement Announcement
Right-handed batsman Cheteshwar Pujara shared the news of his retirement on social media. He posted a heartfelt letter with a caption:
“Wearing the Indian jersey, singing the national anthem, and giving my best every time I stepped on the field – it is impossible to express the real meaning of this in words. But as they say, every good thing must come to an end, and my time has come too. With immense gratitude, I have decided to retire from all formats of Indian cricket. Thank you all for your love and support!”
Pujara’s Emotional Note
The 37-year-old Pujara expressed his feelings in his retirement letter:
“As a small-town boy from Rajkot, I dreamt with my parents about touching the stars and representing the Indian cricket team. I never imagined that this game would give me so much – priceless opportunities, experiences, purpose, love, and above all, the honour of representing my state and this great nation. Wearing the Indian jersey, singing the national anthem, and giving everything on the field – these feelings cannot be described in words. But as they say, every good thing comes to an end, and so has this journey. With gratitude, I have decided to retire from all forms of Indian cricket.”
Similar: Piyush Chawla Announces Retirement from All Forms of Cricket
Gratitude Towards BCCI, Coaches, and Teams
Pujara continued by thanking the people who shaped his career:
“I am deeply thankful to the BCCI and the Saurashtra Cricket Association for their continuous support and opportunities throughout my career. I also want to thank all the teams, franchises, and counties I played for. I am grateful to my mentors, coaches, and spiritual guides for their invaluable advice – without them, I would not have reached this stage. My heartfelt thanks also go to my teammates, support staff, net bowlers, analysts, logistics teams, umpires, ground staff, scorers, media personnel, and everyone working tirelessly behind the scenes to make this beautiful game possible.”
A Special Thanks to Fans and Family
Now stepping into the world of commentary, Pujara also expressed his gratitude to his supporters:
“This sport has taken me across the globe, and the energy and love from fans everywhere will always remain close to my heart. I am overwhelmed by the affection I have received and will forever remain grateful. Most importantly, none of this would have been possible without the sacrifices and unconditional support of my family – my parents, my wife Puja, my daughter Aditi, my in-laws, and my entire extended family. They made this journey truly memorable and meaningful. Now, I look forward to the next chapter of my life, where I will spend more time with them and make them my priority. Thank you all for your endless love and support!”
Pujara’s Cricketing Career
Cheteshwar Pujara made his international debut for India in 2010. Between 2010 and 2023, he played 103 Test matches and only 5 ODIs. His ODI career was short, scoring just 15 runs in five matches played between 2013 and 2014. He never played T20 internationals for India.
Test Career
- Matches: 103
- Runs: 7,195
- Centuries: 19
- Half-centuries: 35
- Double centuries: 3
Pujara was considered the backbone of India’s Test batting lineup for more than a decade, playing several match-saving and match-winning innings.
First-Class Career
- Matches: 278
- Runs: 21,301
- Centuries: 66
- Half-centuries: 81
- Highest score: 352
List A Career
- Matches: 130
- Runs: 5,759
- Centuries: 16
- Half-centuries: 34
Although he played a few domestic T20 matches, Pujara never got the chance to represent India in the T20 international format.