Cheteshwar Pujara Announces Retirement from Indian Cricket After 15 Years

Pujara Bids Farewell to Cricket

New Delhi, August 24: Cheteshwar Pujara, a stalwart of Indian cricket, has officially announced his retirement from all formats, concluding a remarkable 15-year journey in the sport.

On a seemingly ordinary Sunday morning, Pujara surprised fans with his unexpected retirement announcement. He joins fellow cricket icons Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, who also stepped away from Test cricket this year, a format where Pujara truly excelled with his classic batting technique.

Jasprit Bumrah, India's leading fast bowler, expressed his best wishes for Pujara's future endeavors on Instagram, stating, "Cricket will miss you Pujji bhai. Wishing you success on your next chapter."

KL Rahul, the stylish opener, praised the 37-year-old's contributions, writing, "An era of grit, patience, and class. Happy retirement Pujji. Wish you the very best in your next chapter."

In recent years, the Indian team has moved on from Pujara, as evidenced by his limited appearances in the Test squad, despite his active participation in domestic cricket for Saurashtra and Sussex in the County Championship.

Making his debut in October 2010, Pujara consistently showcased his skills in Test cricket, even as T20 formats gained popularity. His strengths lay in his exceptional defense and mental fortitude.

Ending his career with 103 Tests, Pujara amassed 7,195 runs at an average of 43.60, including 19 centuries and 35 half-centuries over his extensive career.

He played a pivotal role in numerous victories, with the 2018-19 Border-Gavaskar Trophy being a highlight, where he scored 521 runs in a marathon effort of 1258 balls, leading the series in runs.

Pujara shared his thoughts on his retirement decision, stating, "This plan has been in the works for a week. I haven't been part of the Indian team for the last few years, and I felt it was the right time for young players to step up in domestic cricket, which influenced my choice."

He added, "Such a significant decision is made after discussions with family and key figures in my life, and after consulting everyone, I concluded that it was time to move on."