Indian cricket bid farewell to one of its most dependable Test batters, Cheteshwar Pujara, as the 37-year-old announced his retirement from all formats of the game on Sunday, August 24, 2025. With a career spanning nearly two decades, Pujara was hailed as the backbone of India’s Test batting, known for his classical technique, patience, and resilience.

Pujara played 103 Test matches, scoring 7,195 runs at an average of 43.60, including several match-winning knocks in overseas conditions. A veteran of first-class cricket, he amassed 21,301 runs in 278 matches, cementing his legacy as one of India’s greatest red-ball specialists. He also featured in five ODIs and briefly in the IPL, though his true impact remained in the longest format.

Jaydev Unadkat’s Emotional Tribute

Among the many tributes, Pujara’s longtime Saurashtra and India teammate, Jaydev Unadkat, penned one of the most heartfelt notes. He recalled their first interaction back in 2010, when Pujara personally recommended him to the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) management for trials, which eventually landed Unadkat his first IPL contract.

Unadkat shared how their relationship grew from being teammates to best friends, highlighting both Pujara’s grit and his lesser-known humorous side. “I am super proud to call you my senior first, my colleague second, and my brother to round it all off!” wrote Unadkat, adding that he looks forward to reminiscing their memories once he retires as well.

Pujara’s Farewell Message

Announcing his retirement on X (formerly Twitter), Pujara expressed deep gratitude: “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.”

While stepping away from professional cricket, Pujara confirmed that he will stay connected to the sport, already having ventured into commentary during the India vs England Test series earlier this year.

A Classical No. 3 India Will Miss

Known as the modern-day wall, Pujara earned comparisons to Rahul Dravid for his ability to anchor India’s innings under pressure. His contributions in iconic series, including the 2018-19 and 2020-21 Border-Gavaskar Trophy wins in Australia, will be etched in Indian cricketing history.

With his retirement, Indian cricket loses its most reliable Test No. 3 batter of the last decade, while fans and fellow cricketers celebrate his grit, discipline, and unshakable determination.

The Upcoming IPOs in this week and coming weeks are Abril Paper Tech, Sneha Organics, Sugs Lloyd, Anlon Healthcare, NIS Management, Sattva Engineering Construction, Globtier Infotech, Current Infraprojects, Vikran Engineering.

The Current active IPO are Shivashrit Foods, Anondita Medicare, Classic Electrodes (India), ARC Insulation & Insulators, Mangal Electrical Industries, .

Start your Stock Market Journey and Apply in IPO by Opening Free Demat Account in Choice Broking FinX.

Join our Trading with CA Abhay Telegram Channel for regular Stock Market Trading and Investment Calls by CA Abhay Varn - SEBI Registered Research Analyst.