Cheteshwar Pujara has announced his retirement from all forms of cricket after playing for India for over 13 years. In an emotional statement on Instagram, he said that wearing the Indian jersey, singing the national anthem, and trying to give his best every time he stepped on the field was an experience that is “impossible to put in words”. The announcement comes after he expressed his desire to be part of the England tour.
‘All good things must come to an end’
“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,” Pujara wrote on Instagram.
‘From dreaming to joining a part of Team India’
Pujara, in a long emotional statement announcing his retirement, reflected on his childhood dream of playing for India, a dream that eventually became a reality. He added that cricket had given him much more than the game itself – “opportunities, experiences, purpose, love”.
“As a little boy from the small town of Rajkot, along with my parents, I set out to aim for the stars and dreamt of being a part of the Indian cricket team. Little did I know then that this game would give me so many invaluable opportunities, experiences, purpose, love, and above all, a chance to represent my state and this great nation.”
He then shared that, like all “good things”, his cricket career “must come to an end” too, announcing his decision to retire from all forms of cricket.
‘Indebted to mentors, coaches and spiritual guru’
“I would like to thank the BCCI and Saurashtra Cricket Association for the opportunity and support throughout my cricket career. I am equally grateful to all the teams, franchises and counties I have been able to represent over the years. I wouldn’t have made it this far without the invaluable guidance of my mentors, coaches and spiritual guru – to them I shall always remain indebted,” he expressed.
He went on to extend gratitude towards his teammates, support staff, net bowlers, analysts, logistics team, umpires, ground staff, scorers, journalists – essentially, anyone and everyone who “tirelessly worked behind the scenes to enable him to compete and play this game that he loves”.
The 37-year-old also thanked his partners, sponsors and team, “appreciating” their “loyalty” and combined “belief” in him throughout his career.
And, how can one’s retirement note be complete without mentioning fans? “The game has taken me to places across the globe – and the passionate support and energy of the fans has always been a constant. I have been humbled by the wishes and motivation wherever I have played and will always remain grateful.”
He also gave a shoutout to his family, who, he said, made the “journey truly worth it”. He said that he is looking forward to the “next phase” of his life, where he is prioritising his family, which includes his parents, wife Puja, his daughter Aditi, and his in-laws.
Pujara career stats
Pujara played his last match for India in the 2023 World Test Championship final against Australia at The Oval.
He retired as India’s eighth-highest run-getter in Test cricket, where he scored 7,195 runs at an average of 43.60. This number includes 19 centuries and 35 half-centuries. He played 103 Tests and 5 ODIs for India.
He used to play for India at No 3, and has been a part of the country’s most memorable Test victories both at home and overseas. During the 2018-19 tour of Australia, he scored 521 runs in 1,258 balls and struck three centuries.
Gautam Gambhir, reacting to his retirement announcement, wrote on X (formerly Twitter), “He stood tall when the storm raged, he fought when hope was fading. Congratulations, Pujji.”