Overview

• Speaking after his August 24 retirement announcement, Pujara warned that preparing rank turners for World Test Championship results damaged India’s batting and the quality of the format, urging balanced pitches that last into the fourth and fifth days.
• Fresh analysis in India highlights concern over the shrinking space for red-ball specialists, with Dilip Vengsarkar criticizing IPL-driven Test selections and advocating that Duleep Trophy and Irani Cup performances guide red-ball picks.
• Virat Kohli thanked Pujara for "making my job easier at 4" in a public tribute, and Pujara replied that he will cherish their time together, with the pair combining for more than 3,500 Test runs in partnership.
• Ravichandran Ashwin said Pujara’s No. 3 role enabled many of Kohli’s runs, while Alyssa Healy described how he exhausted Australia’s attack during the 2018–19 series in which he scored 521 runs and was Player of the Series.
• Pujara ends a 103-Test career with 7,195 runs at 43.60 and 19 centuries, having last played for India in the 2023 World Test Championship final.