Batting stalwart Cheteshwar Pujara announced his retirement from all forms of Indian cricket on August 24, 2025. For over a decade, Pujara was the Test
team’s dependable player at No. 3, carrying forward the legacy of Rahul Dravid with his old-school approach of patience. With 7,195 Test runs, 19 centuries, and several unforgettable performances in India’s historic series wins at home and abroad, he became one of the toughest batters to dismiss in modern cricket. Notably, only a few batters in this generation have shown the art of traditional Test batting consistently and effectively. Now, as India moves into a transitional phase, especially with three batting greats, including Pujara, Virat Kohli, and Rohit Sharma, exiting from the red-ball format, the challenge will be to find someone who can offer similar stability at No. 3.
Here are the three players who can likely be India's next Cheteshwar Pujara in Test team:
3. Abhimanyu Easwaran
Top-order batter Abhimanyu Easwaran, who is considered one of India’s most dependable red-ball prospects, is highly spoken of as a potential successor to Cheteshwar Pujara in the Test setup. Representing Bengal in domestic cricket, Easwaran has had a solid domestic career so far. With over 7800 runs in first-class cricket at an average of 48.70, including 27 centuries, he has been considered a reliable top-order batter.
Despite being part of India’s Test squads for tours to Australia and England, Easwaran is still awaiting his debut. His performances for India A, where he has often led the side, have shown his leadership qualities. Despite consistently performing in the domestic circuit and being in the scheme of things, he hasn't yet broken in. However, if given a chance, most likely in the No. 3 spot, the 29-year-old is set to do wonders. Now, he will be seen leading the East Zone in the upcoming Duleep Trophy.
2. Baba Indrajith
Tamil Nadu's Baba Indrajith is one of the most reliable batters in Indian domestic cricket and is now being looked at as a potential successor to Cheteshwar Pujara in the Test setup. The solid right-handed batter, capable of keeping wicket and bowling leg-spin, Indrajith has been a crucial member of Tamil Nadu’s middle order since 2014.
Having played most of his cricket in Chennai, he is among the finest players of spin in the circuit. Over the years, he has played memorable knocks, most notably with a double century on his Duleep Trophy debut in 2017-18 and a fighting 152 against Mumbai. In first-class cricket, he has scored 5,599 runs in 83 matches at an average of 51.84, with 16 centuries and 29 fifties.
1. Sarfaraz Khan
Sarfaraz Khan has long been considered one of India’s most gifted batting talents, and with Cheteshwar Pujara’s retirement, he is seen as a strong contender to take up the vacant spot in the Test team. The Mumbai cricketer has dominated domestic cricket with over 4,600 first-class runs at an average of nearly 66, including 16 centuries. His contributions were rewarded in 2024, when he finally made his India debut against England and followed it up with a magnificent 150 against New Zealand in the same year.
Recently, he made headlines by shedding over 17 kilos through a strict diet and discipline, displaying his fitness level, which has become a norm in modern-day cricket. In the Buchi Babu tournament, the right-handed batter hammered 138 against TNCA XI on the opening day of the first round of the tournament. With his ability to play long innings and take toll on the bowlers, he could be a strong suit for that position and carry the legacy of Pujara.
