Cheteshwar Pujara Announces Retirement: A Wall Bids Goodbye

A Legacy of Steel

Cheteshwar Pujara’s retirement marks the end of an era for Indian Test cricket. For over a decade, he anchored the middle order with old-school grit in an era dominated by flashy stroke play. His calm presence was a bridge between Dravid and the next generation.

When India suffered a 0-4 whitewash in England and Australia (2011-12) and stalwarts like Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman retired, the team faced a batting vacuum. Pujara stepped up during the 2012-13 home season, scoring a staggering 1,073 runs at an average of 82.5 in 10 Tests against New Zealand, England, and Australia, restoring India’s fortress at home.

Defining Knocks and Fighting Spirit

Beyond the numbers, Pujara’s career is defined by unforgettable innings: the heroic Colombo Test in 2015, his marathon stays in Australia, and match-saving partnerships that turned series in India’s favor. His courage against hostile pace attacks earned him global respect as the last of cricket’s classic batsmen.

Even opponents admitted his impact. After India’s historic 2021 series win in Australia, Josh Hazlewood famously said,

“Enough of me seeing Pujara again. I have seen enough on the field.”

Hazlewood’s respect for Pujara became a running joke when he skipped IPL 2021, with fans teasing that he was avoiding Pujara in nets. In the 2024 Border-Gavaskar Trophy, Hazlewood again quipped,

“Happy that Cheteshwar Pujara is not around this time in Australia.”

The Last of a Rare Breed

In a generation obsessed with strike rates, Pujara remained an outlier, a throwback to timeless Test cricket. His patience was his weapon, his technique his shield. As he bids farewell, India doesn’t just lose a player; it closes the chapter on one of its grittiest batting philosophies.

Career in Numbers

  • Tests: 103

  • Runs: 7,195

  • Average: 43.6

  • Centuries: 19

  • Best Knock: 206* vs England (Ahmedabad, 2012)