One of the greatest servants for India in Test cricket, Cheteshwar Pujara, announced his retirement from all forms of the game on Sunday. Pujara hasn’t been in the scheme of things for India in Tests for a long time, with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) considering younger options. Pujara was most recently seen taking up roles as a pundit during Team India’s various assignments around the globe. Pujara’s last Test for India came in 2023 against Australia at the Kennington Oval. Since then, he was overlooked despite Team India’s relatively poor shows against different teams.
There were rumours of his return to the Test setup for the tour of Australia in 2025 but the selectors went with lesser-experienced players. After India’s Test assignment Down Under ended in a disaster, even stalwarts like Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Ravichandran Ashwin quit the format. Considering there was no way for Pujara to make a comeback to the national setup, he decided to quit.
Taking to Instagram to announce the big news, Pujara wrote: “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. Thank you for all the love and support!”
In an emotional post on social media, Pujara said that he will forever remain indebted to his teammates, coaches and others who supported him during his cricketing career.