Cheteshwar Pujara announces retirement from all forms of Indian cricket

On Sunday, August 24, Team India talismanic No.3 Test batter Cheteshwar Pujara announced his decision to retire from all forms of Indian cricket. He took to his Instagram and X accounts to make his final decision.

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Delving into the details of Pujara's Test numbers, the star batter has played 103 Tests, amassing 7195 runs from 176 innings at an average of 43.6 with 19 centuries and 35 half-centuries. His highest score of 206* came against England in November 2012 in Ahmedabad.

“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 on his Instagram handle.

“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,” he wrote.

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Pujara made his Test debut against Australia at M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru in October 2010; Interestingly, his last Test also came against Australia at The Oval in the World Test Championship 2021-23 final in June 2023.

“I would like to thank the BCCI and the Saurashtra Cricket Association for the opportunity and support through my cricket career. I am equally grateful to all the teams, franchises and counties I have been able to represent over the years,” he added.

“I wouldn't have made it this far without the invaluable guidance of my mentors, coaches and spiritual guru - to them I shall always remain indebted.”

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“A big thank you to all my teammates, support staff, net bowlers, analysts, logistics team, umpires, ground staff, scorers, media personnel and all those who tirelessly work behind the scenes to enable us to compete and play this game we love.”

Interestingly, Pujara couldn’t make his comeback to the international arena since India’s loss to Australia in the WTC 2023 Final at The Oval. Batters like Shubman Gill, Sai Sudharsan and Karun Nair have been tried at No.3 in the recent Test tours.

“To my sponsors, partners and management team - I truly appreciate your loyalty and belief in me over the years, and for looking after my off-field activities.”

“The game has taken me to places across the globe - and the passionate support and energy of the fans has always been a constant. I have been humbled by the wishes and motivation wherever I have played and will always remain grateful.”

“And of course none of all this would have been possible or meaningful without the innumerable sacrifices and steadfast support of my family - my parents, my wife Puja, my daughter Aditi; my in-laws and the rest of my extended family - who have made this journey truly worth it. I look forward to the next phase of my life, spending more time with and prioritizing them.”

“Thank you for all the love and support,” he concluded.

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