Cheteshwar Pujara Retires: The Only Indian to Face 500+ Balls in an Innings - Here’s a Look Back at All His Records

A great Indian cricketer has retired. Cheteshwar Pujara has decided to stop playing all forms of cricket. He made the announcement on Sunday, August 24, 2025. It marks the end of a big era for Indian cricket.

Pujara was known as a Test specialist. He was not about hitting quick runs or big sixes. He was all about patience and staying at the crease for a long time. He played for India in 103 Test matches. 

He was the rock of the team, especially in some of India's biggest Test wins overseas. He was often the one who would hold up one end while other batsmen played their natural game.

Cheteshwar Pujara’s Unbeatable 500+ Balls Record: A Symbol of His Career

This is one of Pujara's most famous records. It is the perfect example of his style. He is the only Indian batsman to face more than 500 balls in one Test innings. This happened in 2017 against Australia in Ranchi. He batted for an incredible 10 hours and 17 minutes.

He scored 202 runs in that innings, but the most amazing thing was the 525 balls he faced. He broke the old record held by Rahul Dravid, another great batsman known for his patience. 

The long innings tired out the Australian bowlers and helped India to a big total. It showed everyone that Test cricket is not just about scoring runs fast. It is also about staying at the wicket and wearing down the other team.

Cheteshwar Pujara’s Role in India’s Overseas Wins

Pujara was a very important player for India, especially in matches played outside of India. While his average in some places like England (29) or New Zealand (20) was not that high, his slow, patient style of batting was very important. He would take a lot of blows to his body from fast bowlers to save the other batsmen.

His most important role was in India's historic Test series win in Australia in 2018-19. India had never won a Test series in Australia before. 

Pujara was the hero of that series. He was the top run-scorer, hitting 521 runs in four matches. He also hit three centuries and one half-century. He was named the Player of the Series for his amazing performance.

Pujara was also a key partner for Virat Kohli. They had a great partnership, especially in overseas matches. 

For example, they once put on a 222-run stand in South Africa, which is a record for India. Pujara's slow and steady batting allowed Kohli to score runs more freely.

Pujara’s Late Career Struggles and Final Years

Towards the end of his career, Pujara’s form was not as good. He had a few tough years, and his average dropped a bit. He was dropped from the team a few times. But he never gave up. He would go and play county cricket in England and score a lot of runs there to try and get back into the Indian team.

His love for Test cricket was clear. He wanted to keep playing for India. His last Test match was in the World Test Championship final in June 2023.

Key Records and Numbers

Pujara has a lot of big records. He is eighth on the list of most runs scored for India in Test matches. He scored a total of 7,195 runs. He hit 19 centuries and 35 half-centuries. He also scored three double hundreds.

He was also a great player in domestic cricket. He scored more than 21,000 runs in first-class cricket, with a very high average. This shows his consistent performance over many years.

Here is a quick look at his career numbers:

Conclusion

Pujara's retirement marks the end of an era. He will be remembered as a player who played the game the old way. He was a perfect example of patience, hard work, and a strong mind.

His innings in Australia will be remembered for a long time. He showed everyone that the slow and steady way of playing can still work in modern cricket. He was a hero for a generation of Test cricket fans.

FAQs

Has Cheteshwar Pujara retired from cricket? 

Yes, he has retired from all forms of cricket.

How many balls did he face in his record innings? 

He faced 525 balls against Australia in 2017.

How many Test runs did he score? 

He scored 7,195 runs in his Test career.

How many Test matches did he play for India? 

He played 103 Test matches for India.