Cheteshwar Arvind Pujara born 25 January 1988 is a distinguished Indian cricketer who has represented the Indian national team for over thirteen years. He currently plays for Saurashtra in domestic cricket and has previously played for Sussex County Club in the County Championship. Renowned for his unflappable and patient batting style, Pujara has been a cornerstone of India’s Test team for over a decade. Having played in more than 100 Test matches, he is celebrated for his contribution to India’s historic 2018-19 Test series win in Australia, a monumental achievement for Indian cricket. Pujara made his first-class debut for Saurashtra in December 2005, and went on to make his Test debut in October 2010 at Bangalore. He has also played five One Day Internationals (ODIs) for India. His notable performances include being the highest scorer for India A during their tour of England in 2010. In October 2011, the BCCI awarded him a D-grade national contract. Pujara’s sound technique and ability to play long, resilient innings made him a prime contender for the middle-order spot after the retirements of stalwarts like Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman. He was also a part of the Chennai Super Kings team that won the IPL 2021 title.
Cheteshwar Pujara Biography 2024
Pujara’s Test comeback came against New Zealand in August 2012, where he scored a century. He achieved his first double century against England in Ahmedabad in November 2012, and then followed it up with another double century against Australia in March 2013. Both innings were crucial in steering India to victory, earning him the man of the match award on both occasions. In the 2012 NKP Salve Challenger Trophy, Pujara was the top scorer, with two centuries and a half-century. He became one of the fastest to reach 1000 runs in Test cricket, accomplishing the feat in just 11 matches and 18 innings. In 2013, he was named the Emerging Cricketer of the Year.
In February 2017, during a one-off Test against Bangladesh, Pujara set a new record for the most runs in an Indian first-class season, amassing 1,605 runs—surpassing the previous record of 1,604 runs set by Chandu Borde in 1964-65. In November 2017, he also set a new record for the most double-centuries in first-class cricket by an Indian, with his twelfth double-century, surpassing Vijay Merchant’s previous record. In March 2022, he was awarded a Grade B contract by the BCCI, though after a string of poor performances, Pujara was dropped from the Indian team following a disappointing outing in the 2023 World Test Championship Final.
Cheteshwar Pujara Biography Details
Full name | Cheteshwar Arvind Pujara |
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Born | 25 January 1988 (age 36) Rajkot, Gujarat, India |
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Batting | Right-handed |
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Bowling | Right arm leg break |
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Role | Top-order batter |
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Relations | Arvind Pujara (father) |
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Cheteshwar Pujara Early Life
Cheteshwar Pujara was born in Rajkot, Gujarat, on 25 January 1988, into a Hindu family. His father, Arvind Pujara, and his uncle, Bipin Pujara, both represented Saurashtra in the Ranji Trophy. Recognizing his talent early, Pujara’s parents supported his cricket aspirations, and he began playing with a leather ball at the age of 13. Tragically, his mother passed away in 2005 due to cancer when Pujara was just 17. Pujara completed his Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) from J. J. Kundalia College in Rajkot. Pujara married Puja Pabari in a ceremony in Rajkot on 13 February 2013. The couple welcomed their daughter, Aditi, on 22 February 2018.
Cheteshwar Pujara Physical Stats
Attribute | Details |
Full Name | Cheteshwar Arvind Pujara |
Nickname | Chintu, Good Boy |
Profession | Cricketer (Batsman) |
Height | 165 cm / 5’ 10” |
Weight | 71 kg / 157 lbs |
Body Measurements | Chest: 39 in, Waist: 32 in, Biceps: 11 in |
Eye Color | Light Brown |
Hair Color | Black |
Cheteshwar Pujara Cricket Career
Category | Details |
International Debut | Test: 9 October 2010 vs Australia |
| ODI: 1 August 2013 vs Zimbabwe |
| T20: N/A |
Batting Style | Right-Handed Bat |
Bowling Style | Right-arm legbreak |
Jersey Number | #15 (India) |
Coach/Mentor | Karsan Ghavri |
Domestic and International Teams
Team | Details |
Domestic Teams | Saurashtra, Kolkata Knight Riders, Royal Challengers Bangalore, Kings XI Punjab, Derbyshire, Yorkshire |
International Teams | India, India A, Board Presidents XI, West Zone, Mumbai A, Saurashtra |
Key Records and Achievements
Record/Achievement | Details |
Fastest 1,000 Test Runs | Second-fastest Indian after Vinod Kambli |
2013 First-Class Runs | Scored 2,043 runs in 2013, second only to Chris Rogers |
Triple Centuries | Ninth batsman to score three career first-class triple centuries |
Man of the Series | U-19 World Cup 2006 (Close to 350 runs) |
Longest Innings (India) | First Indian to face 500+ balls (2017) |
Double Centuries (County) | Second Indian to score a double ton in County Championship (2022) |
Cheteshwar Pujara Personal Life
Attribute | Details |
Date of Birth | 25 January 1988 |
Age (as of 2023) | 35 Years |
Birthplace | Rajkot, Gujarat, India |
Zodiac Sign | Aquarius |
Hometown | Rajkot, Gujarat, India |
School | Lal Bahadur Shastri Vidyalaya, Rajkot, RM Chhaya High School |
Educational Qualification | Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA, correspondence) |
Family and Relationships
Family Member | Details |
Father | Arvind Pujara (Former cricketer) |
Mother | Late Reena Pujara (Died 2005) |
Wife | Puja Pabari (Married 13 February 2013) |
Children | Daughter: Aditi (born 22 February 2018) |
Siblings | Not Known |
Favourite Things
Category | Details |
Favourite Batsman | Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, Ricky Ponting |
Favourite Actor | Amitabh Bachchan, Johnny Depp |
Favourite Singer | Lata Mangeshkar |
Favourite Destination | Cape Town |
Batting and Fielding Stats (Test)
Matches | Inns | Runs | Avg | 100s | 50s | 4s | 6s |
Tests | 101 | 178 | 6,100 | 19 | 27 | 748 | 6 |
Cheteshwar Pujara ODI Stats
Matches | Inns | Runs | Avg | 100s | 50s | 4s | 6s |
ODIs | 5 | 69 | 34.5 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 1 |
First-Class Career Stats
Matches | Inns | Runs | Avg | 100s | 50s | 4s | 6s |
First-Class | 160 | 279 | 12,300 | 50 | 44 | 1,300 | 40 |
Cheteshwar Pujara T20 Stats
Matches | Inns | Runs | Avg | 100s | 50s | 4s | 6s |
T20s | 1 | 11 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
Cheteshwar Pujara IPL Stats
Teams | Matches | Inns | Runs | Avg | 100s | 50s |
Chennai Super Kings (2021) | 7 | 7 | 110 | 22 | 0 | 0 |
Career Turning Point
Event | Details |
Career Turning Point | Consistent performances in first-class cricket brought him into the Indian Test team, where his resilience and technique were noticed. |
Cheteshwar Pujara Net Worth
The estimated net worth of Cheteshwar Pujara is $3 Million.
Cheteshwar Pujara Summary
Cheteshwar Pujara’s cricketing career has been defined by his technical prowess and resilience, especially in Test cricket. Despite limited opportunities in the shorter formats, Pujara’s contributions in long-form cricket, especially in India’s historic series victories abroad, are unparalleled. His calm demeanor, solid technique, and impressive statistics make him a true stalwart in the world of cricket.