The cricket world bid farewell to one of its most resilient batters as Cheteshwar Pujara announced his retirement from international cricket. The news left fans reminiscing about his countless heroic knocks, especially against Australia, where he earned a reputation for grinding down world-class bowlers. Soon after the announcement, however, social media lit up with a viral post that claimed Australian pacer Josh Hazlewood had called Pujara his ‘biggest headache’ But was it really true?

The viral claim

Pujara’s retirement from international cricket has triggered waves of nostalgia across the cricketing world. The Indian batting stalwart, known for his grit and ability to wear down opposition attacks, has always held a special place in fans’ hearts. But in the middle of these emotional tributes, a post claiming to be from Australian pacer Hazlewood started making rounds on social media.

The account, posting under the handle @Joshazlewood38, stated: “You were my biggest headache on the field, now I can bowl freely, without getting tired whole day. You had a good run, enjoy your retirement! Best wishes for your upcoming journey.”

This seemingly cheeky message quickly went viral, with many fans believing Hazlewood had finally admitted what most bowlers secretly felt.

Truth behind Josh Hazlewood’s post

However, a closer look revealed the reality. The profile in question clearly states in its bio: “Parody Account.” Hazlewood, in fact, does not have an official presence on X (formerly Twitter) or Instagram. His manager Neil Maxwell had earlier clarified that the Australian fast bowler stays away from social media altogether. In short, the viral post was a work of satire—not a genuine admission from Hazlewood.

Even though the quote turned out to be fake, the sentiment behind it isn’t entirely off the mark. Pujara was, indeed, a massive thorn in the flesh of Australian bowlers, Hazlewood included. In 25 Tests against Australia, he scored 2,074 runs at an average of 49.38, including five centuries and 11 half-centuries.