Cheteshwar Pujara Retires From All Formats of Cricket: Tribute to India’s Test Rock
After giving Indian cricket an era of courage, patience and unwavering determination, Cheteshwar Pujara has officially retired from the cricket field. He was the man who instilled the spirit of Test cricket in the players, but he will no longer play in any format of the game. The news reached the fans on August 24, 2025. At the age of 37, he has left behind a legacy that was defined not just by his dazzling shots, but by his stubborn defense and indomitable will to win.
The Rock of the Indian Batting Lineup
For many years, Cheteshwar Pujara was a reliable anchor of India’s Test team. He was a calm presence in tense moments of matches. In a T20-dominated world, he gave us a refreshing throwback to an era when batting for time was a virtue. His ability to absorb pressure while pressing the opposition bowlers helped lay the foundation for other players like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma to score freely. This was one of his greatest achievements and he never shied away from taking a blow for the team, and that selflessness became his trademark.
The Gabba and Adelaide Heroics
Pujara’s name will always be remembered with India’s historic Test series wins in Australia. His famous performances in the 2018-19 and 2020-21 Border-Gavaskar Trophy campaigns were the most unforgettable. In 2018, he was the player of the series, scoring 521 runs and facing over 1,200 balls, but still he exhausted the Australian attack. Two years later, at the Gabba, he faced short-pitched bowling and also took several body blows for 56 runs that later paved the way for Rishabh Pant and the team’s famous victories.
A Legacy Beyond Numbers
While his numbers are impressive (7,195 runs in 103 Tests with 19 centuries), his legacy lies in the countless hours he spent in training, the relentless work he imposed on his opposition bowlers and the invaluable lessons of determination he imparted to a new generation of cricketers. He was a player who remained true to the fundamentals of Test cricket, and proved that with patience and determination, success can be achieved no matter what.
The End of an Era
With Pujara’s retirement, the last link in the Indian Test team that left its mark in the early 2010s has also come to an end. It comes after the Test retirements of his teammates, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, earlier this year. His departure marks the end of an era and reminds everyone of the value of classical Test batsmanship.
A Tribute From the Cricket Fraternity
With his retirement, he has been receiving tributes from all corners of the cricketing world, including legends like Sunil Gavaskar and Sachin Tendulkar. Gavaskar even called him “one of the old-fashioned cricketers who put India above all others“, while Tendulkar said that “it was always reassuring to see you go out at No. 3.” These words perfectly reflect the respect he has for him in the team and in the hearts of his teammates.
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