Just another OG cricketer hangs up his boots, as Cheteshwar Pujara announces retirement from all formats of Indian cricket. Pujara, who was a specialized Test batter for India for over a decade, played his last Test match at the Oval in 2023 against Australia in the World Test Championship final. On August 24, Pujara took to his social media and announced his retirement from cricket in India. The 37-year-old Saurashtra cricketer has cherished his journey from the alleys of Gujarat to donning the Indian jersey, gulping the support of the fans from all around the world. He wrote, "As a little boy from the small town of Rajkot, along with my parents, I set out to aim for the stars; and dreamt to be a part of the Indian cricket team. Little did I know then that this game would give me so much – invaluable opportunities, experiences, purpose, love, and above all a chance to represent my state and this great nation. 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, and with immense gratitude I have decided to retire from all forms of Indian cricket." He further thanked the Saurashtra Cricket Board and BCCI for letting him play for the respective teams. He acknowledged everyone behind the scenes who helped him flourish as a cricketer, and also thanked his family for their support. He wrote, "I would like to thank the BCCI, and Saurashtra Cricket Association for the opportunity and support through my cricket career. Am equally grateful to all the teams, franchises and counties I have been able to represent over the years...A big thank you to all my teammates, support staff, net bowlers, analysts, logistics team, umpires, ground staff, scorers, media personnel and all those who tirelessly work behind the scenes to enable us to compete and play this game we love." He added, "And of course none of all this would have been possible or meaningful without the innumerable sacrifices and steadfast support of my family – my parents, my wife Puja, my daughter Aditi; my in-laws and the rest of my extended family – who have made this journey truly worth it. I look forward to the next phase of my life, spending more time with and prioritizing them." View this post on Instagram A post shared by Cheteshwar Pujara (@cheteshwar_pujara) Read also: Rajeev Shukla reveals culprit behind boos against Hardik Pandya Cheteswar Pujara, the undisputed wall in the Indian middle order Cheteshwar Pujara, son of former Ranji player Arvind Pujara, has bean a seasoned Test batter in modern- day Test cricket, epitomizing patience and classical technique. Born in Rajkot, Gujarat, he displayed prodigious talent early, scoring a triple-century in Under-14 cricket and a double century against England in Under-19s. Pujara made his Test debut in October 2010 against Australia in Bangalore, stepping in at No. 3 ahead of Rahul Dravid and scoring 72 in a challenging chase. Over 103 Tests, he has amassed 7,195 runs at an average of 43.60, including 19 centuries and 35 fifties, with a highest score of 206*. A defensive specialist, he faced 1,258 balls in India’s historic 2018-19 series win in Australia, registering three centuries. The 2021-22 Border Gavaskar Series still has Pujara's name etched in golden letters. The man took 11 blows on his body and tackled the pacers, giving Rishabh Pant a free hand to attack. He has a decorated first-class career that includes 21,301 runs at 51.82, with 66 centuries. However, with India gradually trying an aggressive approach, Pujara was slowly sidelined from Test cricket. He played his last Test match in 2023, the WTC final against Australia, where he scored 14 and 27 runs, respectively.