India’s stoic No. 3 and the epitome of classical resilience, Cheteshwar Pujara, announced his retirement from all forms of Indian cricket on August 24, 2025, in a moment that touched the hearts of all Test cricket fans. Pujara posted an emotional tribute on social media, writing, “It’s hard to put into words what it truly meant to wear the Indian jersey, sing the anthem, and try my best every time I stepped on the field.” However, his modest sincerity in a press conference from his birthplace of Rajkot gave the farewell a deeper meaning: “This was my personal call.” I considered that this was the ideal time for a week or so.
Pujara’s 13-year international career came to an end after 108 games, 103 of which were played in Test matches. A key component of India’s twin Test series victories in Australia in the 2018–19 and 2020–21 legs was the tenacious right-handed batsman. With 19 hundreds and 7195 Test runs at 43.60, he retires.
In India’s victory in the 2018–19 and 2020–21 Test series in Australia, Pujara’s greatest performance was when he faced more than 1,200 deliveries, scored 521 runs, and was named Player of the Series. That series was a moment in culture as well as a statistical high. It reshaped India’s identity in foreign settings, and Pujara was at its center, taking physical abuse and expressing literary defiance.However, the impact he made on Indian cricket cannot be captured by numbers alone. His innings were frequently more about his soul than his strokes; he was able to endure pressure, wear down elite attackers, and anchor India’s most memorable victories.
“This was my personal call and I decided that this is the right time, especially when young players should get opportunities in domestic cricket,” Chesteshwar Pujara told to Sports Tak. I had considered playing this Ranji season, but I changed my mind after realizing that young players would be more prepared if given the chance. This was a personal call for me. I don’t want to talk too much about the last several years when I wasn’t on the Indian squad. Since the 2023 World Test Championship (WTC) final at The Oval against Australia, the veteran had not represented India. The selectors had favored youthful players even though he was performing well in the domestic arena.
For around a week, I had the feeling that now was the ideal moment. – Cheteshwar Pujara
See, I didn’t think much about it earlier. From about a week I thought a little that this is the right time. So today when I took this decision, it is quite a proud moment for me and for my whole family. On this day, I want to thank all my teammates, my coaches and all the support staff I worked with, because this is a proud moment for me. Representing the Indian team, from childhood, when I was small, it was always a dream to play for India. When that dream got completed and for so many years this journey went on, we created so many memories, so there are many proud moments in my career till now.
Cheteshwar Pujara’s imprint is still reflected in Indian cricket culture and scorecards as the country closes one of its most subtly significant eras. His retirement serves as a reminder that, in a society that is obsessed with speed, there is still beauty in silence.
Also Read: IND VS WI: Cheteshwar Pujara Picks Out 4 Toughest Bowlers He Faced.