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Indian stalwart Cheteshwar Pujara on Sunday brought the curtains down on a 13-year international career, marking the end of an era for India’s most dependable Test batter over the past decade.
Puajara, who represented India in 103 Tests and five ODIs, announced his retirement via social media handles.
“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,” Pujara wrote.
“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. “Thank you for all the love and support!”.
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He also thanks the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and his cricket association for their support throughout his career.
“I would like to thank the BCCI and the Saurashtra Cricket Association for the opportunity and support through my cricket career. Am equally grateful to all the teams, franchises, and counties I have been able to represent over the years,” he concluded.
Cheteshwar Pujara’s last Test appearance came in the 2023 World Test Championship (WTC) final against Australia.
The right-handed batter, known for his grit and determination in the longest form of the game, made his Test debut against Australia in Bengaluru in 2010.
Over the years, the 37-year-old was part of many series wins against Australia. Among the most memorable were the 2018-19 and 2020-21 seasons in Australia, where he remained a vital cog in the Indian batting lineup.
During the 2018-19 series, he amassed 521 runs in four Test matches, earning him the Player of the Series award, which helped India win the first Test series on Australian soil.
Overall, Cheteshwar Pujara scored 7195 runs at an impressive average of 43.60 with 35 half-centuries and 19 centuries to his name. His runs tally puts him among the eight-highest run-getters for India in Test matches.
