He hasn’t performed Check cricket previously two years, and Cheteshwar Pujara understands greater than anybody else that the time is true for him to bid adieu with none regrets.
Pujara, 37, introduced his retirement from aggressive cricket on Sunday, having scored 7195 runs in 103 Exams with 19 centuries at a wholesome common of 43 plus.
“There are not any regrets. I’m very lucky to have performed for the Indian staff for such a very long time; not many gamers obtained that chance, so I’m very grateful to my household and individuals who have supported me,” Pujara informed reporters in a media convention in his hometown.
He has already began his work as a broadcaster throughout the current Check collection in England and indicated that he has discovered his calling in commentary.
“I’m actually completely satisfied that I’m calling this off, however on the identical time, I’ll keep hooked up to the sport. As a cricketer, I want to keep related to cricket by doing commentary. I’ve began doing media work as effectively.
I’m not going to play cricket, however I will probably be watching the Indian staff and commenting on it. The honour will proceed,” he added.
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He made his Check debut in 2010, however it was after Rahul Dravid’s retirement in 2012 that he made the No.3 spot his personal for the subsequent decade.
He had two memorable excursions of Australia, however the 2018-19 collection, the place he scored 521 runs with three tons of, going through as many as 1258 deliveries, will at all times be his lasting legacy.
“There have been many nice moments on the sector, but when I’ve to single out one Check collection on the Australian soil, the 2018 collection was probably the greatest achievements of my cricketing profession and probably the greatest recollections for the India staff as effectively,” he mentioned.
“It was probably the greatest collection I’ve been part of.”
Pujara, who actually pressured his method into the Indian staff in 2019 in opposition to Australia, had scored a 72 in a run-chase within the second innings in Bengaluru. He remembered he was overawed when he first entered the Indian dressing room.
“I made my debut for the Indian staff in 2010; that was one of many proudest moments of my cricketing journey. After I made my debut in 2010 beneath Mahi bhai, it was a dream come true second for me as a result of there have been some nice gamers within the staff.
“Gamers like Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, VVS Laxman, Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir, I’m nonetheless attempting to remember these names, whom I’ve grown up watching, so it was one of many proudest moments of my cricketing profession.” On a deeply private be aware, he remembered his mom, Reena Pujara, who handed away in 2005, after battling most cancers when he was 17.
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“…she at all times used to inform my father that don’t fear about your son, finally he’ll play for the Indian staff and her phrases got here true, and I’m positive she will probably be very pleased with the achievements I’ve made in my cricketing journey.
“However on the identical time, I nonetheless keep in mind her phrases; she used to inform me that it’s essential to be a superb individual, irrespective of how large you grow to be as a cricketer. I nonetheless keep in mind that, and she or he will probably be very pleased with me.” The veteran batter additionally expressed gratitude to his non secular guru, Haricharan Das Ji Maharaj, for serving to him keep calm and balanced throughout high-pressure moments.
“I might additionally wish to thank my non secular guru, Shri Haricharan Das Ji Maharaj, who has contributed to my non secular journey. His phrases, ‘You might want to be mentally calm and concentrate on the sport since you play in a high-pressure state of affairs, not simply in cricket however in life,’ and he has taught me so many issues, and to remain balanced and targeted.”
Revealed on Aug 24, 2025