Cheteshwar Pujara / Pujara did not get a place in this team, so he announced his retirement!

Cheteshwar Pujara: Cheteshwar Pujara, a strong pillar of Indian cricket and known as 'The Wall of India', has announced his retirement from all formats of cricket. Pujara, who has been out of the Indian Test team for nearly two years, had also made his presence felt in domestic cricket, but recently he took this big decision after not getting a place in the West Zone team for the Duleep Trophy. This decision of Pujara has made cricket fans emotional, as he has given many memorable moments to Indian cricket with his solid batting style.

Did not get a place in the Duleep Trophy

Pujara was not included in the West Zone team in the Duleep Trophy starting on 28 August 2025. The command of this team has been handed over to all-rounder Shardul Thakur. Pujara played his last domestic match against Gujarat in February 2025. After not getting a place in the Duleep Trophy, it became clear that his return to domestic cricket could also be difficult. Perhaps this was the reason why Pujara took the difficult decision to retire.

Last performance in the Indian team

Pujara last played for the Indian Test team in the final of the World Test Championship (WTC) 2021-23. The match was played against Australia at the Oval in London on 7 June 2023, in which Australia won by 209 runs. Pujara could not make much impact in this match. He scored 14 runs in the first innings and 27 runs in the second innings. Since then he did not get a chance again in the Indian team.

Great record in Test cricket

Cheteshwar Pujara made his Test debut in 2010 against Australia. In his 13-year Test career, he played 103 Test matches and scored 7195 runs at an impressive average of 43.60. During this, he scored 19 centuries and 35 half-centuries. His batting style made him a reliable batsman of the Indian Test team, especially on foreign pitches. Pujara has rescued the Indian team from difficult situations many times with his defensive technique and patience.

Performance in ODI and First Class Cricket

Pujara made his ODI debut against Zimbabwe in 2013. However, he played only 5 ODIs, scoring 51 runs at an average of 10.20. He could not make much impact in ODI cricket. But his record in first class cricket was excellent. Pujara scored over 21,000 runs in more than 260 first class matches, including 66 centuries and more than 80 half-centuries. This figure shows his consistency and dedication.

Also showed his flair in commentary

Recently, Pujara was seen in the commentary box in the Test series between India and England. His deep cricket understanding and passion for the game won the hearts of fans in commentary as well. However, now after retiring from cricket, it will be interesting to see how he stays associated with cricket in the future.

Pujara's contribution unforgettable

Cheteshwar Pujara's contribution to Indian cricket will always be remembered. His wall-like batting, especially in countries like Australia and England, led India to many historic victories. Fans will remember him not only for his runs, but also for his simplicity and dedication to the game. Pujara has ended an era with his retirement, but his legacy will live on forever in Indian cricket.