As Cheteshwar Pujara announced his retirement from all forms of Indian cricket on August 24, 2025, the cricketing world witnessed an outpouring of tributes and heartfelt messages. Among the most touching responses came from his wife, Puja Pabari, who penned an emotional Instagram post that beautifully captured the essence of their shared journey through the highs and lows of professional cricket.
Pujara’s illustrious Test career spanned 103 matches, accumulating 7,195 runs at an average of 43.60, decorated with 19 centuries and 35 half-centuries. His last international appearance was in the 2023 World Test Championship final against Australia at The Oval. The 37-year-old batter from Rajkot made his announcement through a heartfelt social media post, expressing gratitude for wearing the Indian jersey and representing his country with pride.
Puja Pabari’s deeply emotional tribute on husband Cheteshwar Pujara’s retirement
In her deeply moving Instagram tribute, Puja shared a collection of precious photographs that chronicled her husband’s most memorable cricket moments. The post featured iconic images from the historic 2018-19 Border-Gavaskar Trophy, where India secured their first-ever Test series victory in Australia after 72 long years, with Pujara playing a pivotal role by scoring 521 runs at an average of 74.42.
The emotional message began with a profound quote from the Bhagavad Gita: “Be in the present as the present is the present of the supreme presence” – a guiding principle that Puja noted her husband had been living by. She expressed her admiration for how Pujara always gave his all and played the game in his own “calm and dignified way“.
Puja’s most heartfelt revelation came when she wrote: “From knowing nothing about cricket to loving you and the sport through your eyes – your journey has been a true education in life’s lessons for me, and I couldn’t be more grateful to have gone through the highs and lows of your career together“. This sentiment perfectly encapsulated how love transformed her relationship with cricket from complete unfamiliarity to passionate devotion.
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A partner’s perspective on cricket life and sacrifices behind the glory
The emotional depth of Puja’s message was further revealed when she acknowledged the personal cost of Pujara’s cricket career. “I will miss cheering you on the field, following the unshakeable routines, and at times maybe also the anxiousness before a match/series,” she wrote, providing a rare glimpse into the emotional rollercoaster that cricket families experience.
Her words about missed celebrations and adjustments made to prioritize cricket struck a particularly poignant chord: “For all the missed celebrations and adjustments made in order to prioritise cricket, lets make up for it now“. This statement highlighted the sacrifices that both the player and his family made throughout his 15-year international career.
Puja also included memories from Pujara’s landmark 100th Test match, which he played against Australia in Delhi in February 2023. In that historic match, Pujara became only the second player after Ricky Ponting to hit the winning runs in their 100th Test, though he also recorded a duck in the first innings. The couple, who married on February 13, 2013, in Rajkot, Gujarat, are now parents to a daughter named Aditi.
Pujara’s retirement announcement on Instagram reflected his own 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, and with immense gratitude I have decided to retire from all forms of Indian cricket“.
His wife’s emotional tribute serves as a beautiful complement to his own farewell, offering a deeply personal perspective on one of India’s most dedicated Test cricketers and the love story that supported his remarkable journey.
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