Cheteshwar Pujara is a famous Indian cricketer. This article is written on May 1, 2025. He is known for his calm style and strong batting in Test cricket. He was born on January 25, 1988, in Rajkot, Gujarat, India.
Early Life
Cheteshwar’s full name is Cheteshwar Arvind Pujara. His father’s name is Arvind Pujara. His mother’s name was Reema Pujara. His father and uncle played cricket for Saurashtra. His father was also his first coach. Cheteshwar started playing cricket when he was a child. He used to practise with his father every day. He first played with a leather ball at the age of 13. His mother died when he was 17 years old. Cheteshwar studied at Lal Bahadur Shastri Vidyalaya in Rajkot and finished his BBA from J.J. Kundalia College.
Cheteshwar Pujara Age, Height, Wikipedia, Biography, Net Worth, Career, Wife, Children, Family
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Cheteshwar Arvind Pujara |
| Date of Birth | 25 January 1988 |
| Place of Birth | Rajkot, Gujarat, India |
| Batting Style | Right-handed |
| Bowling Style | Right-arm leg break |
| Role | Top-order batsman |
| Family | Father: Arvind Pujara (former cricketer and coach), Uncle: Bipin Pujara |
| Domestic Teams | Saurashtra (2005–present), Kolkata Knight Riders (2010), Royal Challengers Bangalore (2011–2013), Kings XI Punjab (2014), Derbyshire (2014), Yorkshire (2015, 2018), Nottinghamshire (2017), Chennai Super Kings (2021), Sussex (2022–2024) |
| International Debut | Test: 9 October 2010 vs Australia (Bangalore) |
| ODI: 1 August 2013 vs Zimbabwe | |
| Last International Match | Test: 7 June 2023 vs Australia |
| ODI: 19 June 2014 vs Bangladesh | |
| Test Matches Played | 103 |
| Test Innings | 176 |
| Test Runs Scored | 7,195 |
| Test Batting Average | 43.60 |
| Test Hundreds / Fifties | 19 centuries, 35 fifties |
| Highest Test Score | 206* |
| Balls Faced in Tests | 16,217 |
| ODI Matches Played | 5 |
| ODI Runs Scored | 51 |
| ODI Batting Average | 10.20 |
| IPL Teams | Kolkata Knight Riders, Royal Challengers Bangalore, Kings XI Punjab, Chennai Super Kings |
| Notable Records | - Second fastest Indian to 1,000 Test runs |
| - Most balls faced by an Indian in a Test innings: 525 | |
| - Third Indian to bat on all five days of a Test | |
| - Eleventh Indian to reach 6,000 Test runs | |
| - Scored three first-class triple centuries by age 25 | |
| - Career-best Test ranking: No. 2 in March 2017 | |
| Playing Style | Patient, defensive, known as “The Wall” for his resilience and concentration |
| Personal Life | Married Puja Pabari in 2013; daughter named Aditi |
| Notable Achievements | Man of the Tournament in 2006 U-19 World Cup; Emerging Cricketer of the Year 2013 |
| Injuries | Knee injury in 2011 that kept him out for nearly a year |
| Recent Highlights | Scored a Test century after 1443 days on 16 Dec 2022 against Bangladesh |
Family
Cheteshwar Pujara married Puja Pabari on February 13, 2013, in Rajkot. They have a daughter named Aditi. She was born on February 22, 2018.
Childhood and Youth Cricket
Cheteshwar was a very good player from a young age. He scored big runs in school and local matches. He made his Under-19 Test debut for India in 2005. He scored 211 runs in his first match against England. In 2006, he played in the Under-19 World Cup. He was the top scorer for India in that tournament. He scored 349 runs in 6 matches. He was named the Man of the Tournament.
Domestic Cricket
Cheteshwar played for Saurashtra in the Ranji Trophy. He scored many runs for his team. He made three triple centuries in first-class cricket before the age of 25. He played for different teams in the Indian Premier League (IPL) like Kolkata Knight Riders and Royal Challengers Bangalore. He also played for county teams in England, such as Derbyshire and Yorkshire.
International Career
Test Debut
Cheteshwar made his Test debut for India on October 9, 2010, against Australia in Bangalore. He scored 72 runs in his first match and helped India win. He became famous for his patience and strong defence. Many people compared him to Rahul Dravid.
ODI Debut
He played his first One Day International (ODI) on August 1, 2013, against Zimbabwe. But he did not play many ODIs for India.
Big Moments
In August 2012, he scored a century against New Zealand in his Test comeback.
In November 2012, he made his first double century against England.
In March 2013, he scored another double century against Australia.
In 2013, he scored 2,163 runs in first-class cricket, which was the second highest in the world that year.
He was the fastest Indian to reach 1,000 Test runs after Sunil Gavaskar.
Records
He set a record for most runs in an Indian first-class season with 1,605 runs in 2017.
He has the most double centuries in Indian first-class cricket (12).
He faced 525 balls in one Test innings, the most by any Indian.
He is the eleventh Indian to score over 6,000 Test runs.
He is one of the few Indians to score a century on the first day of a Test outside Asia.
Style of Play
Cheteshwar is known for his old-school batting style. He is very patient and does not play risky shots. He likes to stay at the crease for a long time. He is called a “wall” by fans because of his strong defence. He is calm and does not get angry easily. He is a team player and always puts the team first.
Struggles and Comebacks
Cheteshwar had many injuries in his career. In 2011, he had a knee injury and missed one year of cricket. But he worked hard and came back stronger. Sometimes, he was dropped from the team after poor performance. But he always tried to improve his game and return to the team.
Recent Years
In December 2022, Cheteshwar scored a Test century after almost four years, against Bangladesh. In 2023, after some poor performances, he was dropped from the Indian team. But he is still playing domestic cricket and trying to make a comeback.
Personality and Hobbies
Cheteshwar is quiet and simple. He likes to listen to old songs and watch movies. He is called “Chintu” and “Good Boy” by his friends and family. He is very disciplined and works hard every day.
Achievements
Man of the Tournament in Under-19 World Cup 2006.
Emerging Cricketer of the Year 2013.
Second fastest Indian to 1,000 Test runs.
Most double centuries in Indian first-class cricket.
Over 6,000 runs in Test cricket for India.
Conclusion
Cheteshwar Pujara is a great cricketer. He is an inspiration for many young players. He shows that hard work and patience can help you achieve your dreams. Even when he faces problems, he never gives up. He is a true hero of Indian cricket and a role model for everyone.