Cheteshwar Pujara, the man who anchored India’s Test batting for over a decade, announced his retirement from all forms of Indian cricket on August 23, 2025, with a simple post on X. At 37, after 103 Tests, 7,195 runs, and 19 centuries, he decided to step away, leaving behind a legacy of resilience that defined some of India’s greatest Test triumphs. His departure feels like the end of an era for fans who admired his ability to grind out sessions and wear down bowlers. This museum of a career, built on patience and defiance, deserves a long look as we bid farewell to one of cricket’s unsung heroes.
The Wall at No. 3
Pujara made his debut in 2010 and he did so in the No. 3 jersey with a maturity that was beyond his age. In 103 Tests, he scored 7195 runs at an average of 43.60 including 19 hundred and 35 fifties. He was a castle at home, with 3,839 runs at 52.58, but it was overseas where his mettle really showed. To those fans who monitor the pulse of cricket, such sites as xbet provide an opportunity to monitor the stats and stories that made players like him.
His role wasn’t flashy; it was foundational. He absorbed pressure, batted time, and set up wins. In 2018-19, he was the backbone of India’s historic Test series win in Australia, scoring three centuries in Adelaide, Melbourne, and Sydney. Two years later, he faced 928 balls across four Tests Down Under, taking blows to the body and scoring a dogged 56 off 211 balls in Brisbane’s epic chase. That series showed what Pujara was about: not just runs, but heart.
Moments That Defined Him
Pujara’s career is a highlight reel of endurance. His first Test hundred came against New Zealand in Hyderabad in 2012, a sign of things to come. Two months later, he smashed a double century against England in Ahmedabad, then backed it up with a ton at Wankhede, even as Kevin Pietersen stole the headlines. In Johannesburg in 2013, he batted nearly six hours for a second-innings 153 against South Africa, holding a draw together. Colombo in 2015 saw him open the innings for 145 off 289 balls; Southampton in 2018 had him unbeaten on 132 on a spicy track, outshining even Virat Kohli’s 46.
Then there’s Ranchi in 2017, where he batted 672 minutes and 525 balls for a double hundred against Australia. He joined ML Jaisimha and Ravi Shastri as the only Indians to bat all five days of a Test. These innings weren’t just about runs; they were about bending time, frustrating bowlers, and giving India a chance. His method was simple: see ball, play ball, repeat. It wasn’t always pretty, but it worked.
A Legacy Beyond Numbers
Pujara’s retirement post on X was classic him: understated, heartfelt, no fuss. “Wearing the Indian jersey, singing the anthem, trying my best each time I stepped on the field—it’s impossible to put into words what it meant,” he wrote. That sums him up. He wasn’t chasing headlines or highlight reels; he was chasing runs, sessions, victories. His teammates knew it. In Australia, when he copped blows from Cummins and Hazlewood, he didn’t flinch. In Brisbane, those 211 balls for 56 were as crucial as any century. He played for the team, not the cameras.
He also carried Saurashtra to Ranji Trophy glory, piling up runs with the same focus he brought to Tests. Sussex fans saw it too, as he churned out centuries in County cricket. But it’s his role in India’s overseas wins that sticks. He didn’t just score; he set the tone. Young batters like Shubman Gill or Yashasvi Jaiswal owe a bit of their freedom to Pujara’s ability to eat up overs and wear out attacks.
Why His Exit Matters
Pujara’s retirement leaves a gap. Here’s what made him special:
- Grit Over Glamour: He batted for hours, even days, to save or win Tests, like his 525-ball marathon in Ranchi.
- Overseas Hero: His three centuries in Australia 2018-19 and 928 balls faced in 2020-21 were pivotal to India’s series wins.
- Team First: He took body blows and bowled maidens with his resolve, setting up others to shine.
- Quiet Consistency: With 19 hundreds and 35 fifties, he was India’s rock, especially at home with a 52.58 average.
His departure is not only losing a player; it is losing a mindset. The current game of cricket is more inclined towards aggression, but Pujara has shown how beautiful defense can be. He was not without flaws: he could be too slow, too stubborn, but this is what made him human. His last Test was 2023, but his presence is still felt.
Pujara was a slow-building but ultimately satisfying innings on a sticky wicket. He knocked off the new ball, battled the weather and left others to take their shots. As he goes walking away, fans will keep in their minds the time he spent at the crease, the blows he took, the victories he created. Cricket is a game that moves on but players like him never die. They scribe a trace unwavering, unstoppable, like a furrow in the grass.