Veteran Indian Test Star Cheteshwar Pujara Retires from All Forms of Indian Cricket.
Sports
On 24 August 2025, Cheteshwar Arvind Pujara, a stalwart of Indian Test cricket, announced his retirement from all forms of Indian cricket. At 37, the resilient right-handed top-order batter concluded a decorated career that spanned over a decade and left an enduring legacy defined by grit, patience, and classical technique.
- Pujara made his Test debut in October 2010 against Australia and played his final appearance in the 2023 World Test Championship final. Over 103 Test matches, he amassed 7,195 runs at an impressive average of 43.60, including 19 centuries and 35 half-centuries. He also featured in five One-Day Internationals (ODIs), though his true impact lay in the red-ball format.
- Beyond international play, Pujara’s domestic record shines brightly. He scored over 21,301 runs in first-class cricket, including 66 centuries, cementing his status as a cornerstone of domestic cricket, particularly for Saurashtra. His unwavering focus and consistency made him one of India’s most dependable first-class performers.
Main Point :- (i) Following Cheteshwar Pujara’s retirement, tributes poured in from the cricket fraternity. Legendary opener Sunil Gavaskar hailed him saying, “Take a bow Cheteshwar. You have made India proud,” while Virat Kohli thanked him for making his role at No. 4 easier through his consistent presence at No. 3. Fans, fellow players, and commentators celebrated him as a “modern-day Test match warrior” and a true symbol of classical batting discipline, admired for his grit, patience, and unwavering commitment to Test cricket.
(ii) Pujara revealed that he had been considering retirement for only about a week before announcing it on 24 August 2025. While this chapter closes, he has expressed his desire to contribute to Indian cricket in “whatever manner” he can—possibly through mentorship, commentary, or developmental roles.
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