A Silent Curtain Call to Indian Classical Wall
On 24 August 2025, Cheteshwar Pujara- the Indian batting stalwart and test cricketer, declared his retirement in all versions of Indian cricket, bringing to a conclusion a noteworthy career that propelled forward in 2010Pujara made an emotional post on social media and wrote:
Having the Indian jersey on, the anthem being played and doing my best every time I went on the field there is no way I can describe what it meant. All good things must come to an end and with great pride I have decided to put an end to all forms of Indian cricket. Thank you all your love and support.
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The Numbers: Career of a Stalwart in a nutshell
- Matches & Runs:
Pujara has played 103 Test matches with 7,195 runs at an average of 43.60, 19 centuries and 35 fifties
- Signature Performances:
In the 2018-19 Test series in Australia, he became the Player of the Series as India won the series in the first time in their history they won a Test series in Australia, scoring 521 runs in seven innings.He made his (and last) appearance in India in 2023, in the World Test Championship Final in England
- Domestic and First-Class Legacy
In addition to the international arena, Pujara was a giant in the First-Class arena- one of the greatest number-3 run-getters of all time in India, with 66 First-Class centuries to his name, only bettered by Tendulkar, Gavaskar, and Dravid
He was also the Indian to have faced the maximum number of deliveries in a single innings of the Test match- over 500 deliveries to him in the test match innings
He was unique in the sense he scored a T20 century in Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (100* in Saurashtra) in his 71-match T20 career
Beauty in the Unspectacular: The Pujara Ethos:
His excellence lay in his mastery of the craft, not in the flash: patience, resilience, and an old time technique. In one of them, as an observer put it, all the fun is in the title:
Pujara is in line of stoics... He had the belief that Test cricket... was a matter of time... There is loveliness in the commonplace… in a leaf that preaches election, in a brick that chastens a bowler.”
He was the complete opposite of the flashy in cricket, where others would waver, he was undaunted in the pressure situations.
No Farewell Game: A Silent Goodbye
Pujara did not get a formal farewell Test as some other legends did, instead sharing the list with Dhoni, Sehwag, and Yuvraj; all of whom, though adored, did not have the honor of a farewell Test of their own to say goodbye in styleThe fact that he has left highlights the fact that greatness does not always come with a stage worthy exit.
Reflections & Reaction by Cricketing Legends
The tributes to him were instant and in the cricketing world:
- Sachin Tendulkar:
- VVS Laxman:
- Yuvraj Singh, Gautam Gambhir, Virender Sehwag and others shared the sentiments, hailing his toughness, his coolness and his selfless devotion
I talked to family, friends and some cricketers... The key thing was to develop opportunities to younger players... I have been engaged at media work which I have enjoyed... I am still in touch with the game.”
Legacy: The Unassuming Pillar of the Indian Test Resurrection
Pujara has left his legacy beyond figures. He was the support on which numerous transient successes were built His marathon knocks of 2012-13 against England and Australia along with his tenacity that sees him through difficult situations in foreign venues are part of India Test rebirth narrative
As selectors look to the future and the new generation comes to the fore, his exit is a change- from stoicism to innovation, patience to aggressiveness.
Final Though:
Cheteshwar Pujara at 37 has retired in dignified fashion- his old fashioned technique, concentration and lack of glamour in excellence have been the hallmarks of a generation. He departs unobtrusively, but the impression of his presence will remain long lingeringly felt