Australia Test captain Pat Cummins has named Cheteshwar Pujara as the toughest Indian batter he has bowled to. The Australian fast bowler explained that Pujara’s patience and determination made him extremely difficult to dismiss.

During a recent interaction with Prime Video Sport, Cummins was asked to name the toughest opponents he had faced from different countries throughout his career. When it came to India, he picked Pujara, recalling how the former batter could frustrate bowlers by defending deliveries and refusing to offer easy chances.

“India, I am going to say, Pujara. He is really hard to get out. It is just it is like death by a thousand paper cuts. Happy to face 100 dot balls if he wanted to. He isn’t going to give you a chance,” Cummins said while speaking to Prime Video Sport.

Pujara played a key role in India’s historic Border-Gavaskar Trophy victories in 2018-19 and 2020-21. His ability to spend long hours at the crease and wear down the Australian bowling attack made him a major challenge for the hosts.

Cummins Picks Saeed Ajmal From Pakistan

For Pakistan, Cummins named former spinner Saeed Ajmal. He recalled an incident when Ajmal surprised him with his bowling action and dismissed him cleanly.

“Pakistan, Saeed Ajmal. It was like the last ball of the over; I walked in, Saeed Ajmal just goes and I went, what? Clean bowled. I have never seen anything like that,” Cummins said.

The Australian captain also selected Alastair Cook from England, AB de Villiers from South Africa, Brendon McCullum from New Zealand, Tillakaratne Dilshan from Sri Lanka and Chris Gayle from the West Indies.

Interestingly, every player on Cummins’ list has retired from international cricket.

Cheteshwar Pujara’s International Career

Pujara announced his retirement from international cricket in 2025. He finished his Test career with 7,195 runs in 103 matches at an average of 43.6, including 19 centuries and 35 half-centuries.

The former India batter also played five ODIs, scoring 51 runs.


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