Mumbai: An era ground to a halt in Indian cricket when Cheteshwar Pujara, the wall of India’s Test batting for more than a decade from 2010 until his last of 103 Tests in 2023, announced his retirement from all forms of cricket on Sunday. The 37-year-old brought the curtains down on a fabulous career, and soon after making the announcement on social media, a relaxed Pujara spoke to TOI in an exclusive interview. Excerpts:What prompted you to take the decision to retire from the game? Firstly, I spoke to my family, friends, some cricketers, and a few people I regularly consult. The most important thing for me was to create opportunities for younger players. For any sportsperson, there comes a time to move on, and I felt this was the right moment to allow the next generation to establish themselves. At the same time, I’ve been active in media work, which I’ve enjoyed. So even though I’m not playing anymore, I’m still connected with the game, which is a good feeling.Which is your favourite Test innings, the one you cherish most? There have been many important ones, but a few stand out. My 145 not out in Colombo against Sri Lanka, where I had to open the innings, is special. Then there’s the 123 at Adelaide in 2018, on the opening day of the series that we eventually won. My double hundreds in India also stay close to me — 206 not out against England in Ahmedabad (2012-13) and 204 against Australia in Hyderabad (2012-13). Another knock I really value is my 92 in the second innings against Australia at Bengaluru in the 2016-17 season.Who was the toughest bowler you faced in your career? Across my career, Dale Steyn, Morne Morkel, James Anderson, and Pat Cummins have been among the most challenging bowlers I’ve faced.What do you plan to do post-retirement? Broadcasting or coaching at some stage? I haven’t made concrete plans yet. For now, I will continue with broadcasting, which I enjoy. If coaching opportunities come up in the future, I’ll consider them. At the moment it’s too early, but once I’ve had time to reflect and think about the future, I’ll take a call.Your most memorable series was obviously in Australia in 2018-19, when you scored three centuries and 521 runs in four Tests at an average of 74.42, playing a central role in India’s maiden Test series win there… Yes, 2018 was historic our first Test series win on Australian soil. I would also highlight the 2017 series in India. Australia started strongly by winning the first Test, but we fought back to win the second. The Ranchi and Dharamshala Tests that followed made it a very memorable series. And of course, the 2020-21 win at the Gabba with a depleted side is right up there. That was one of the best victories I’ve been a part of.Do you regret not playing much white-ball cricket for India, having always been seen as a red-ball specialist? No, not anymore. As I step away from the game, I am at peace with it. I feel fortunate to have played over 100 Tests for India, which is a huge honour. I had the privilege of sharing the field with cricketers I grew up admiring, and later with the younger generation as well. It has been a wonderful journey. I don’t dwell on what I didn’t achieve. Instead, I’m thankful to my father, my family, my coaches, and everyone who supported me along the way.
Poll
What was Cheteshwar Pujara’s most memorable Test innings?
Who was the best captain you played under? It’s difficult to single out one. I began my Test journey under Mahi bhai (MS Dhoni), then played under Virat and Rohit. I also had the chance to play for Dada (Sourav Ganguly) in the IPL, and Ajinkya (Rahane) led us in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in 2016-17. Each captain had his own strengths, and I enjoyed playing under all of them.Having been a sort of brand ambassador for Test cricket over the past decade and a half, where do you feel the format stands today? Test cricket is in good shape. If you look at the recent India-England series, every match went into Day Five and was closely contested. The pitches were good, the bowling was at a high level, and the batting was top quality. I’m confident Test cricket will continue to thrive, with the BCCI, ICC, and other boards promoting it strongly. Younger players also seem to be enjoying the format, which is a good sign.Who do you think will be your successor at No. 3? It’s hard to say right now. Sai Sudharsan has started batting at No. 3 and has shown good potential. Karun Nair has also been tried, though he is currently batting at No. 5. We’ll need to give these players time to settle before making a judgement. Youngsters like Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Sai, Shubman Gill, and Rishabh Pant are all shaping the new Indian batting order. The middle and lower order, with players like Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar, have also contributed well. The team is in good hands, and I hope this continues.
