Cheteshwar Pujara, the adhesive No. 3 who underpinned India’s Test batting for more than a decade, has retired from all forms of Indian cricket. The 37-year-old ends his international career with 7,195 runs at 43.60 from 103 Tests, including 19 centuries, ranking eighth on India’s all-time Test run list. Pujara confirmed the decision in a social-media statement, saying “all good things must come to an end,” after failing to regain a place in the national side since the 2023 World Test Championship final. Making his debut in 2010, Pujara built a reputation for long, attritional innings, most notably during India’s maiden Test series win in Australia in 2018-19, when he amassed 521 runs and was named player of the series. He also featured in India’s World Test Championship finals in 2021 and 2023, and had recent stints in domestic cricket and with Sussex in England’s County Championship. Current head coach Gautam Gambhir, former captain Anil Kumble and Test skipper Shubman Gill led a wave of tributes, lauding Pujara’s resilience and influence on a generation of Indian batters. His departure follows the Test retirements of Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and Ravichandran Ashwin over the past year, marking a broader transition for India’s red-ball side.
The Aussies saw a lot of Pujara at the crease... 😅 Which performance had the greater impact in India's series win? 🧐 https://t.co/ZO94TBvyDl
India Test captain 🤝 India Test great https://t.co/ALHQf5pgwx
A very, very special note from VVS as a special career comes to an end 🌠 https://t.co/RwdC0EoN1Q