Solidity at the crease and a way of dignity remained Cheteshwar Pujara’s particular attributes. As the Indian batter introduced his retirement from cricket on Sunday, an period has ended. Pujara was all about classical batsmanship marinated in Test whites.
In an age of glitz, mighty sixes and hyperbole, Pujara was an exception. The old-fashioned batter was keen to grind out assaults, took blows on his physique, and sometimes laid the basis for his extra effervescent team-mates like Virat Kohli to prosper.
It is a thread that hyperlinks him to Rahul Dravid. Both males largely did obligation at quantity three in Tests, they stemmed the preliminary crack when an opener departed, and sometimes they have been a defend to the subsequent man stepping in. In each circumstances, the quantity 4 batter was a celebrity, be it Sachin Tendulkar or Kohli.
In Pictures | Cheteshwar Pujara, certainly one of the foremost Test specialists in twenty first century, retires
Former Indian batter Cheteshwar Pujara introduced his retirement from all types of cricket on August 24, 2025. Pujara is most remembered for India’s Border-Gavaskar Trophy triumph in Australia in 2018 and 2020. He troubled Australia together with his strong defence and method.
In the 2020-21 Border-Gavaskar Trophy collection, he scored 271 runs from 4 matches at a median of 33.87, with three fifties and a finest rating of 77. In the ultimate Test at The Gabba, he endured a number of physique blows from Australian pacers on his physique, making the win much more memorable.
Pujara was all about classical batsmanship marinated in Test whites. Pujara has performed 103 Tests scoring 7,195 runs with 206 not out being his highest rating. He has scored 19 centuries together with 35 half-centuries.
Solidity at the crease and a way of dignity remained Cheteshwar Pujara’s particular attributes.
In first-class cricket, he has performed 278 matches scoring 21,301 runs with 352 being his highest. His common in first-class cricket is 51.82. He has scored 66 centuries and 81 half-centuries.
The crowd’s raucous affection was reserved for Tendulkar and Kohli, whereas for Dravid and his successor Pujara, there was muted respect. Incidentally Pujara made his Test debut in Dravid’s hometown Bengaluru in 2010, and that too towards Australia, an opponent he usually defied by means of his storied profession.
Cheteshwar Pujara additionally has performed 71 T20 matches scoring 1,556 runs with 100 being his finest.
In an age of glitz, mighty sixes and hyperbole, Cheteshwar Pujara was an exception. The old-fashioned batter was keen to grind out assaults, took blows on his physique, and sometimes laid the basis for his extra effervescent team-mates like Virat Kohli to prosper.
Cheteshwar Pujara rings the five-minute bell earlier than the begin of the third day of the third Test match between India and England, at the Lord’s Cricket Ground, in London on July 12, 2025. collection. Anil Kumble, who coached India throughout a part of Pujara’s profession, hailed him as a real ambassador of the recreation. “Congratulations on a fantastic career! You have been a great ambassador of this wonderful game,” he mentioned.
1/3
The crowd’s raucous affection was reserved for Tendulkar and Kohli, whereas for Dravid and his successor Pujara, there was muted respect. Incidentally, Pujara made his Test debut in Dravid’s hometown Bengaluru in 2010, and that too towards Australia, an opponent he usually defied by means of his storied profession.
A brisk second innings 72 in a profitable chase marked out Pujara as one for the lengthy haul. The promising begin, nonetheless, was marred by an damage. A knee surgical procedure and its after-effects affected him for lengthy. But he returned to his favorite longer format, and as soon as Dravid retired, made the quantity three spot his personal.
Leaving the ball, defending as if his life-breath relied on it, and getting his eye in earlier than essaying some pictures, have been all a part of Pujara’s copybook. Hailing from Rajkot and representing Saurashtra in first-class cricket, Pujara revealed an unlimited urge for food for runs.
Daddy tons of have been his norm and as soon as he firmed up his stance inside the Test unit, the runs, doughty and enduring, flowed. As he finishes with 7195 runs averaging 43.60 from 103 Tests, and with 19 tons to boot, Pujara can look again with pleasure at a splendid profession.
He final performed for India in 2023; main up to it, the runs had dried up. Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane have been eased out throughout the transition course of. With Pujara preferring to relaxation his toes, a definite stage in Indian cricket has concluded. As Rohit Sharma and Kohli have already retired, India’s middle-order is certain to sport a brand new really feel, which was evident in the current England tour.
Having moved into the commentator’s chair, an final tribute was paid to Pujara when Aussie speedsters, whereas speaking to him on air, informed him, “Good, not to bowl to you Puji.” They would know, as Pujara was a number one champion when India defeated Australia in its yard in the 2018-19 collection.
He scored three tons of then, and in the 2020-21 away collection, he performed a gritty hand as India prevailed over host Australia. At 37, Pujara has determined to transfer on whereas his place in the pantheon of Indian batting greats is assured.
