Cheteshwar Pujara retires from all forms of Indian cricket

India batter Cheteshwar Pujara has announced his retirement from all forms of Indian cricket. The Test batter made the announcement on X, formerly Twitter.

“Wearing the Indian jersey, singing the anthem, and trying my best each time I stepped on the field – it’s impossible to put into words what it truly meant. But as they say, all good things must come to an end, and with immense gratitude, I have decided to retire from all forms of Indian cricket,” Pujara wrote in his social media post.

Known for his stonewalling ability that would wear down bowling attacks, Pujara cemented his position at one drop for India. He featured in 103 Tests and five One-Day Internationals in an international career spanning from 2010 to 2023. His last appearance for his country was the World Test Championship 2023 final against Australia at The Oval.

One of his most iconic knocks in an India shirt came in the fourth innings of the Gabba Test against Australia in 2021. At his obdurate best, Pujara went on to score a crucial half-century, laying the foundation for India’s historic win. Despite coping several body blows, he stuck to his game plan and kept the Australian bowlers at bay for close to two sessions through his 211-ball marathon effort.