Indian cricket has long been blessed with a steady stream of batting talent. From the golden era of Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, and VVS Laxman to the emergence of Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, Murali Vijay, and Cheteshwar Pujara, the legacy of world-class batsmanship has continued seamlessly.
Cheteshwar Pujara is often called “The Wall” because of his batting style, which is very similar to Rahul Dravid, the original “Wall” of Indian cricket.
Pujara is known for his solid technique and ability to defend for long hours, making it extremely difficult for bowlers to dismiss him. He rarely gets rattled, values his wicket, and is willing to wear down bowlers by playing long innings.
Among them, Cheteshwar Pujara carved out a reputation as the rightful successor to Rahul Dravid at the pivotal No. 3 position. Known for his calm temperament and classical technique,he earned comparisons to “The Wall” and became one of the cornerstones of India’s Test batting.
Last week, the 37-year-old Pujara announced his retirement from international cricket.
Although he has not featured for India since the 2023 World Test Championship final, he remained active in domestic tournaments and in English county cricket. His decision follows the recent Test retirements of stalwarts Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Ravichandran Ashwin.
Reflecting on his career, Pujara wrote on social media: “Wearing the Indian jersey, singing the anthem, and giving my all each time I stepped onto the field-it is impossible to describe what it meant. But as they say, all good things must come to an end. With immense gratitude, I have decided to retire from all forms of Indian cricket. Thank you for the love and support.”
Pujara, a traditional red-ball specialist, remained committed to the longer format even as T20 leagues and the IPL reshaped modern cricket. He made his Test debut against Australia in Bengaluru in 2010, scoring a crucial 72 in the second innings to guide India to victory. His fluent 72 on a tricky 4th innings run-chase on a dry and turning wicket in Bangalore, becoming the fifth Indian to score a 4th innings half-century on debut.
His most iconic contribution came in the 2018-19 Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia, where he amassed 521 runs in four Tests to be named Player of the Series, playing a decisive role in India’s historic first Test series win on Australian soil.
Overall, Pujara played 103 Tests for India, managed 7,195 runs, averaging 43.6. He scored a century against each of the Test-playing nations he faced barring Afghanistan, who he played only once. He struck five centuries each against Australia and England, and four against Sri Lanka. He also scored 35 fifties.
His gritty performances were central to several of India’s memorable triumphs, including the series wins in Australia in 2018-19 and 2020-21, and at home in 2023 that reminded fans of Rahul Dravid’s class.
His best Test score was 206 not out against England in Ahmedabad that was his just sixth Test and for his match-winning performance, he received Man-of-the-Match award.
Cheteshwar Pujara’s illustrious Test career concluded with an impressive record of 103 matches, 7,195 runs, and an average of 43.6. He scored centuries against every Test-playing nation he faced except Afghanistan, whom he played only once. His tally included five hundreds each against Australia and England, four against Sri Lanka, along with 35 half-centuries.
His highest Test score came in only his sixth appearance-an unbeaten 206 against England in Ahmedabad-which earned him the Man-of-the-Match award and underlined his credentials as India’s long-term No. 3.
While limited opportunities in shorter formats restricted his appearances outside Test cricket, Pujara carved his name as one of India’s most dependable red-ball players. His ability to absorb pressure and tire out opposition bowlers made him a vital pillar in India’s overseas successes.
Pujara’s final outing for India came in the World Test Championship final against Australia at The Oval, London, on June 7, 2023. India fell short by 209 runs, with Pujara contributing 14 and 27 in his two innings.
Since then, he remained absent from the national side but continued plying his trade in the domestic circuit and county cricket, while also stepping into commentary. He was notably behind the microphone during the recent Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy between England and India. Given his refined batting knowledge, a future role as a coach appears likely.
Explaining his decision to retire, Pujara said: “This plan was going on for a week. I have not been part of the Indian team for the last few years, but now I thought this is the right time because young players have got opportunities in domestic cricket. That is why I made this decision.”
Pujara’s journey began with Saurashtra in the Ranji Trophy in 2005, though his debut was modest, scoring 11 and 14 against Vidarbha. His early promise, however, was undeniable-he topped the 2006 Under-19 World Cup charts with 349 runs at an average of 116, after having already made headlines with a triple-century at Under-14 level and a double hundred against England Under-19.
Although primarily remembered as a red-ball specialist, Pujara briefly featured in limited-overs cricket. He played five ODIs, scoring just 51 runs, and had short stints in the IPL with Kolkata Knight Riders, Royal Challengers Bangalore, and Kings XI Punjab, before being part of the Chennai Super Kings squad in 2021.
From his grit in Australia during India’s historic series wins to his classical batting style in an era dominated by white-ball cricket, Pujara will be remembered as one of the last great Test purists-a player who embodied patience, resilience, and an unwavering love for the red-ball game.
With his retirement, Indian cricket bids farewell to one of its finest modern-day Test batsmen-an old-fashioned warrior who held firm even as the game evolved around him.
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