Cheteshwar Pujara Opens Up on Retirement: "A Proud Moment for Me and My Family"

Veteran Indian batter Cheteshwar Pujara has finally spoken about his decision to retire from all forms of Indian cricket, calling it a deeply personal and proud moment for both him and his family. The 37-year-old, who was the backbone of India’s Test team for over a decade, announced his retirement on Sunday, bringing an end to an era defined by patience, grit, and unmatched resilience.

In a career spanning 13 years, Pujara played 103 Test matches, scoring 7,195 runs at an average of 43.60, including 19 centuries and 35 fifties. After making his debut in 2010, he became a mainstay at the crucial No. 3 spot following Rahul Dravid’s retirement. Known for his calm presence and ability to grind down the best bowling attacks, Pujara’s contributions were central to many iconic wins — most notably, India’s historic 2018–19 Test series victory in Australia, where he was named Player of the Series.

Speaking to *India Today*, Pujara reflected on his decision:

"I didn’t think too much about it earlier, but over the past week, I felt this was the right time. Today, as I made this decision, it became a proud moment for me and my whole family," he said.

He expressed heartfelt gratitude to his teammates, coaches, and support staff who were part of his cricketing journey.

“Representing India was a childhood dream. That dream came true, and this journey gave me so many beautiful memories. I will always be proud of what I’ve achieved,” he added.

Pujara also clarified that stepping away from domestic cricket was entirely his own decision. He believes that now is the time to make room for young talent to grow.

“I had initially thought of playing one more Ranji Trophy season,” he said. “But then I felt the younger players deserve that space and opportunity. The sooner they get that exposure, the better prepared they’ll be. So this was a personal decision.”

Despite facing major injuries early in his career — one in 2009 and another in 2011 — Pujara bounced back and carved out a place for himself among the greats of Indian Test cricket.

“I never thought I’d come this far after those injuries. To have played for India for so many years after that is something I’m truly thankful for,” he said. “This is a very emotional and proud day for me.”

As he bids farewell to the field, Pujara leaves behind a legacy built not on flamboyance, but on sheer determination, patience, and an unwavering love for Test cricket — qualities that defined him as one of the last great classical batters in the modern era.