There are some retirements that feel like headlines. And then there are some that feel like wounds. On August 24, 2025, Cheteshwar Pujara quietly announced that he is retiring from all forms of cricket. For over a decade, he wasn’t just another name on the team sheet he was the wall that stood when everything else crumbled. His exit, much like his batting, came without fanfare. Yet, the silence is deafening.
Source: IndiaTimes
Numbers That Tell a Story
If cricket is a game of numbers, then Pujara’s are a saga. They don’t scream; they whisper tales of grit.
| Format | Matches | Runs | Average | 100s | 50s | Highest Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Test Cricket | 103 | 7,195 | 43.60 | 19 | 35 | 206 |
| One Day Internationals | 5 | 51 | 10.20 | 0 | 0 | 27 |
| First-Class Cricket | 260+ | 21,301 | 51.82 | 66 | 90+ | 352 |
Source: Times of India, Reuters
Most will look at his ODI record and shrug. But that was never his stage. His stage was Test cricket where time slowed down, where patience mattered more than power, and where his value wasn’t in the runs alone, but in the minutes, hours, and even days he spent saving India.
The Knocks That Defined Him
What makes a batsman unforgettable? For Pujara, it wasn’t sixes into the stands. It was the way he carried India on his shoulders when others had fallen.
In Ranchi, 2017, he batted as if time itself was under his command 202 runs from 525 balls against Australia. That innings didn’t just tire the bowlers; it drained the fight out of them.
In Adelaide, 2018, he played the lone warrior’s role. His 123 and 71 in two innings set the tone for India’s first-ever Test series win in Australia. Without those knocks, history might have looked very different.
But nothing will ever overshadow the Gabba Test, January 2021. On that final day, India needed courage more than flair. Pujara stood like a wall absorbing bouncers on his body, blows on his arms, balls smashing into his ribs. He scored just 56, but those runs were written in blood and bruises. That day, he didn’t just defend India’s wicket; he defended India’s pride.
Source: Hindustan Times
The Man Beneath the Helmet
Cheteshwar Pujara was unlike most modern cricketers. No extravagant celebrations, no sledging, no drama. Just calm eyes under a helmet, and a technique carved out of old-school cricket books.
He lived by discipline. When dropped, he didn’t rant on social media. He went back to Ranji matches, scoring runs on dusty domestic pitches. He went to Sussex and Yorkshire, scoring in the cold English conditions where even stars struggled. His character was built on humility. His career was proof that you don’t need noise to leave an echo.
Source: Hindustan Times
A Farewell That Never Happened
The hardest part for fans is knowing he never got a farewell match. No one stood up in the stands to cheer his final walk. No chance for teammates to lift him on their shoulders. He simply bowed out unnoticed, almost the way he lived his cricket.
Perhaps that’s fitting. Pujara never played for spotlight. His gift to Indian cricket was survival, resilience, and dignity. His goodbye carried the same traits.
Source: Times of India
The Legacy He Leaves
Cheteshwar Pujara leaves behind lessons, not just runs. Youngsters will study his forward defense, his concentration, his ability to wait. But more importantly, they’ll learn from his courage the art of standing firm when everything else is falling apart.
In an age obsessed with T20 leagues, he carried the flag of Test cricket. He reminded us that cricket isn’t just entertainment; it’s endurance, patience, and pride. His name now sits next to Rahul Dravid not as a copy, but as his own version of “The Wall.”
A Quiet Statement, A Lasting Impact
Announcing his retirement, Pujara wrote:
“Wearing the Indian jersey, singing the anthem… it’s impossible to put into words what it truly meant. With immense gratitude, I have decided to retire from all forms of Indian cricket.”
No one summed it up better than a fan on social media:
“When Kohli gave us passion, Pujara gave us peace. When others attacked, he endured. He wasn’t just a batsman he was the fight we all wish we had.”
And perhaps that is his real legacy. Not sixes, not strike rates, not even hundreds. But the belief that sometimes, standing still is the greatest act of courage.
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