Cheteshwar Pujara brought down the curtain on his illustrious career when he announced his retirement from all forms of cricket on Sunday, August 24, 2025.
The 37 year old was the cornerstone of the Indian batting line-up in Tests, featuring in 103 matches in which he scored 7,195 runs at an average of 43.60, with 19 centuries.
Pujara, who impressed with a fifty on debut as a 22 year old against Australia in Bengaluru, played a pivotal role in India’s historic back-to-back series triumphs in Australia.
A look at Pujara’s 10 best knocks in Test cricket:
123 and 71 vs Australia, Adelaide, 2018
The century in the Adelaide Test in 2018 stands as one of Pujara’s finest performances.
The only centurion in a low-scoring Test, Pujara played a gutsy knock of 123 on the opening day on a tough Adelaide pitch. He batted for more than six hours, anchoring India to 250 in their first innings after they had slumped to 127/6 at one stage.
After India claimed a slender 15 run lead, Pujara batting at No. 3 rescued India with a gritty 71 — another near-five hour vigil in the second innings — to push his team past 300 run mark, setting the stage for a thrilling 31 run victory.
Pujara struck a career-best 206 not out against England in the first Test in Ahmedabad.
Electing to bat, India amassed a huge 521/8, powered by Pujara’s maiden double century and a run-a-ball 117 from Virender Sehwag.
While Sehwag attacked from one end, Pujara’s rock solid defence frustrated a world class England bowling attack, including James Anderson, Stuart Broad and Graeme Swann.
England folded for 191 in their first innings and despite recovering to 406 in their second, fell short as India easily chased down 77 for victory with Pujara contributing an unbeaten 41.
204 vs Australia, Hyderabad, 2013
Within months, Pujara stroked another double century, in the second Test against Australia in Hyderabad.
After Australia managed just 237 in their first innings on a batting-friendly pitch, Pujara capitalised with a solid 204, putting on a huge 370 run stand for the second with Murali Vijay, who stroked 167.
India’s 503 proved to be decisive as they trounced Australia by an innings and 135 runs.
With two double hundreds and a century in the space of six Tests, Pujara cemented his status as Rahul Dravid’s worthy successor at No. 3.
56 vs Australia, Brisbane 2021
Pujara’s gusty half-century was a defining moment in one of Indian cricket’s greatest Test victories.
Chasing an improbable 328 for victory on the final day, it was Pujara at his dogged best as the seasoned campaigner frustrated a full-strength Australian attack.
He was struck 11 times on the body — including on his arm, helmet, on his arm — during the final day but nothing could move Pujara an inch.
His resilience allowed Shubman Gill (91) and Rishabh Pant (89) to keep the runs coming as they scripted one of India’s greatest Test wins.
If not for Pujara grinding down the bowlers with his 56 from 211 balls after spending 314 minutes at the crease, India might have not been in a position to push for an unlikely victory.
In a thrilling finish, India edged Australia by three wickets to claim the series 2-1 — their second successive series triumph in Australia.