Big IPL factor behind Cheteshwar Pujara’s retirement EXPOSED

The legendary India National Cricket Team Test batting great Cheteshwar Pujara announced his retirement from all forms of cricket on Sunday, August 24.

And now a massive Indian Premier League (IPL) factor has been revealed behind the retirement of Cheteshwar Pujara from professional cricket.

Cheteshwar Pujara represented 4 IPL teams in his career

Pujara emerged as a batter with an immaculate defensive batting technique in the era of counterattacking batsmen, and he found pleasure in grinding down attacks by playing boring cricket.

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Despite facing multiple serious injuries early on in his career, Pujara didn't lose hope and bounced back stronger after every setback.

He consistently played impressive cricket and made his way into the Indian Test team, where he remained as the batting mainstay for over a decade and played some legendary innings that will be remembered forever.

Pujara was not a flamboyant or aggressive batsman, but he managed to represent four teams in his Indian Premier League (IPL) career.

Cheteshwar Pujara donned the jerseys of Royal Challengers Bangalore, Kolkata Knight Riders, Kings XI Punjab (now Punjab Kings), and Chennai Super Kings.

Overall, he played 30 matches in his IPL career and scored 390 runs at an average of 20.52 and a strike rate of 99.74. His last appearance came for CSK as he was bought by the Super Kings for INR 50 lakh at the auction in 2021, but he was benched throughout the season.

Look, one big factor in his retirement is also the fact that he doesn't play in the IPL - Source

Cheteshwar Pujara was dropped from the Indian Test team after the ICC World Test Championship 2023 Final and was not recalled despite scoring consistently for Saurashtra and for Sussex. He was also snubbed for the upcoming Duleep Trophy.

Meanwhile, a report in the Times of India claimed that the India Test snub, Duleep Trophy non-selection, and having no IPL contract played a major role in Pujara's retirement from cricket.

"Perhaps if he was picked for the Test series in England, Pujara would have retired after the fifth Test. Look, one big factor in his retirement is also the fact that he doesn't play in the IPL. In that case, the Test snub and the Duleep Trophy snub meant there was little point in continuing to play domestic cricket for Saurashtra," the source claimed.

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A real warrior - Ravi Shastri on Cheteshwar Pujara

Former India head coach Ravi Shastri and former batter Shikhar Dhawan paid rich tributes to Cheteshwar Pujara after his retirement via special posts on their official X handles.

"A real warrior. He was instrumental in my stint as coach for India being the No1 side for 5 years on the trot and the 2 back to back series wins in Australia where he was simply brilliant. Well done Puji . God bless. @cheteshwar1," Ravi Shastri stated.

A real warrior. He was instrumental in my stint as coach for India being the No1 side for 5 years on the trot and the 2 back to back series wins in Australia where he was simply brilliant. Well done Puji . God bless. @cheteshwar1 pic.twitter.com/4rpsngvnkP

— Ravi Shastri (@RaviShastriOfc) August 24, 2025

"Har match aur challenge mein team ke liye khade rahe ho, @cheteshwar1! Your grit, patience, and love for the game have set a benchmark for generations to come. All the best for the next innings!," Shikhar Dhawan stated.

Har match aur challenge mein team ke liye khade rahe ho, @cheteshwar1! Your grit, patience, and love for the game have set a benchmark for generations to come. All the best for the next innings! 🤗❤️ pic.twitter.com/eXbFXoepP4

— Shikhar Dhawan (@SDhawan25) August 24, 2025