From Ishant Sharma to Ravindra Jadeja: 5 Indian cricketers who debuted before Cheteshwar Pujara but are still active

NEW DELHI: Cheteshwar Pujara, India’s tireless No. 3 batter and a cornerstone of the Test side for over a decade, announced his retirement from all forms of cricket on Sunday. The 37-year-old leaves behind an imposing red-ball record — 7,195 runs in 103 Tests at 43.60, including 19 hundreds — but his quiet exit also highlights an interesting fact: a few of his contemporaries, who made their international debuts before him, continue to play professional cricket.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!Pujara earned his India Test cap in October 2010 against Australia at Bengaluru, becoming the 266th cricketer to represent the country in the longest format. Since then, 52 more players have followed in the longest format, yet a handful of senior names who debuted earlier than him remain active.

Five active cricketers who debuted for India before Pujara

Ishant Sharma: The tall Delhi pacer made his Test debut in May 2007 and terrorised Australia’s Ricky Ponting with bounce and seam.

Though his last India appearance came in 2021, Ishant continues to feature in domestic cricket and the IPL, most recently turning out for Gujarat Titans in 2025.Rohit Sharma: First seen in Indian colours during an ODI in June 2007, Rohit grew into one of India’s greatest openers. While he has bid farewell to T20Is and Tests, Rohit is still active in ODIs and the IPL.Virat Kohli: The modern batting great made his ODI debut in August 2008 and his Test debut in 2011.

Though Kohli retired from T20Is and Tests, he remains committed to ODIs and domestic cricket, ensuring his presence on the international stage.Umesh Yadav: The Vidarbha speedster first played for India in an ODI in May 2010 before earning his Test cap in November 2011. Known for his raw pace, Umesh has been in and out of the national side, but remains a regular in domestic cricket, last playing in November 2024.Ravindra Jadeja: Pujara’s Saurashtra teammate debuted in February 2009 in ODIs and in 2012 in Tests. Unlike many of his peers, Jadeja remains central to India’s plans, still active in Tests and ODIs. A reliable all-rounder, he was part of the team that recently toured Australia.Pujara’s departure underscores the changing guard of Indian cricket, yet the endurance of these five stars shows how the game continues to balance fresh faces with seasoned veterans.