Cheteshwar Pujara Retires: Test Specialist Ends Glorious 15-Year Cricket Career

Udaipur, Aug 25, 2025: Indian cricket team’s star Test batsman Cheteshwar Pujara has retired from all formats of cricket. He played his last Test match in the World Test Championship final against Australia in 2023. Pujara has written his feelings in a retirement letter.

Pujara Ends His Test Journey

Cheteshwar Pujara joined Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma in retiring from Test cricket, the format where he showed his real strength with his traditional batting style. In the last two years, India moved on from Pujara. His long absence from the Test team was clear proof, even though he kept playing for Saurashtra in domestic cricket and for Sussex in the County Championship.

At 37, his chances of making a comeback became very small. After being dropped following the World Test Championship final loss in 2023, his dream to return ended with his retirement. Pujara said it was the “right” time to step away and give chances to young players. He also explained that he spoke to his family and senior cricketers before taking this big decision.

He made his debut in 2010 and went on to play 103 Tests, scoring 7,195 runs at an average of 43.60. His record includes 19 centuries and 35 half-centuries in a career that lasted more than 15 years.

Memorable Moments Against Australia

The 2018-19 Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia was the most special series for Pujara. He scored 521 runs from 1,258 balls at an average of 74.42, helping India win their first-ever Test series in Australia. He played a crucial century in the first Test when India were struggling at 19/3.

In the 2020-21 Border-Gavaskar Trophy, when India were missing many top players, Pujara again stood firm. He made 271 runs in four Tests, helping India win another historic series in Australia.

Speaking about his journey, Pujara said: “I have many memories, but the 2018 series in Australia was the biggest. After that, the 2021 series win in Australia with a weak team was also very special. From 2010 to 2023, I played many series, but the toughest ones were always against Australia, and those will always stay with me.”

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