Cheteshwar Pujara announces retirement from all forms of cricket

Cheteshwar Pujara, one of the foremost Test specialists in the 21st century, has announced his retirement from all forms of cricket. The 37-year-old took to social media on Sunday morning to make his retirement announcement public.

“As a little boy from the small town of Rajkot, along with my parents, I set out to aim for the stars; and dreamt to be a part of the Indian cricket team. Little did I know then that this game would give me so much – invaluable opportunities, experiences, purpose, love, and above all a chance to represent my State and this great Nation,” Pujara wrote in a statement.

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… pic.twitter.com/p8yOd5tFyT — Cheteshwar Pujara (@cheteshwar1) August 24, 2025

“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.”

Even though the 37-year-old last featured in a Test more than two years ago, Pujara was active on the domestic circuit. Saurashtra’s Ranji Trophy quarterfinal loss against Gujarat in February turned out to be his last competitive appearance in a First Class career spanning almost two decades.

Of the 278 First Class matches that he represented, Pujara revelled in a majority of the 103 Test matches he played for India. While knee injuries curtailed his limited overs career – he played the last of his five ODIs and the last of his 30 IPL matches in 2014, he emerged as Rahul Dravid’s successor as India No. 3 in white flannels.

More than his tally of 7195 runs at 43.60, including 19 hundreds and 35 fifties, it was Pujara’s uncanny ability to blunt opposition bowlers that came to the fore time and again. He was at his peak during India’s maiden Test series triumph in Australia in 2018-19. Pujara not only scored 521 runs to emerge as the

top-scorer of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy but also faced a whopping 1258 balls.

One of Indian cricket's most resolute and admired Test specialists, @cheteshwar1, has announced his retirement from all forms of the game.

Relive one of his prolific knocks against Australia at Ranchi.#ThankYouPujjipic.twitter.com/1zb22SPWN6 — BCCI (@BCCI) August 24, 2025 He stood tall when the storm raged, he fought when hope was fading. Congratulations Pujji 🇮🇳@cheteshwar1pic.twitter.com/0Tj836uoO9 — Gautam Gambhir (@GautamGambhir) August 24, 2025 From the time I first saw Pujara and his potential, it was brilliant to see that potential translating into performance. His courage, grit and determination stood out and the body blows that he took in the Gabba test we won against Australia symbolised Pujara the cricketer for… pic.twitter.com/HsM54bVRVa — VVS Laxman (@VVSLaxman281) August 24, 2025

With him being considered as a Test specialist in international cricket, Pujara continued to contribute to Saurashtra’s emergence as a domestic force to reckon with. His tally of 21301 First Class runs is the fourth-highest by an Indian batter. No Indian batter has scored more than Pujara’s 18 double hundreds. He is also a member of a rare batters’ club to have scored three triple hundreds.

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