Cheteshwar Pujara retires: A look back at his iconic career and records – in numbers | Cricket News

Cheteshwar Pujara’s retirement brings the curtain down on one of Indian cricket’s most resolute careers. A throwback to a different era, Pujara’s batting was built on patience, grit and an unshakeable belief in wearing down bowlers. Over 103 Test matches, he scored 7,246 runs at an average of 43.60, including 19 centuries and 35 half-centuries. His highest score of 206* came against England in Ahmedabad in 2012, a knock that established him as the heir to Rahul Dravid’s famed No. 3 role.

Pujara’s greatness cannot be measured only in numbers. He faced more than 15,000 deliveries in Test cricket, a testament to his ability to blunt the fiercest of attacks. He remains the only Indian batter in Test history to face more than 500 balls in a single innings, consuming 525 deliveries during his 202 against Australia in Ranchi in 2017. His epic innings in Sydney 2019, where he scored a series-defining 193, and his heroic resistance at the Gabba in Brisbane during the 2020–21 Border-Gavaskar Trophy, ensured India achieved historic series wins in Australia. Bowlers like Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Nathan Lyon have all spoken about how difficult he was to dismiss.

Pujara’s career is studded with remarkable achievements:

Pujara last played for India in the World Test Championship final against Australia in June 2023. Though he did not feature in the Test side after that, his contributions remain deeply cherished by fans and teammates alike. As he steps away, Indian cricket bids farewell to a man whose courage, discipline and selflessness defined a generation.