Pat Cummins names Cheteshwar Pujara as his toughest Indian opponent

Australian captain Pat Cummins has singled out Cheteshwar Pujara as the most challenging Indian batsman he has bowled against during his international career, likening the endurance test of trying to dismiss him to a slow, agonizing process.

Speaking about his battles with Indian line-ups over the years, the fast-bowling star highlighted how Pujara's relentless defensive technique and refusal to give away his wicket wore down opposition bowling attacks during high-stakes Test series.

"Cheteshwar Pujara was relentless. Bowling to him felt like death by a thousand papercuts because he just never gave you an easy opportunity,"

Cummins noted when discussing his toughest opponents.

The Indian top-order veteran played pivotal roles in India's historic back-to-back Test series triumphs on Australian soil in 2018-19 and 2020-21, occupying the crease for hours and absorbing relentless short-pitched bowling from Australia's pacers.

Cummins acknowledged that while aggressive batters like Virat Kohli or Rishabh Pant present immediate threats with their scoring rate, Pujara's ability to exhaust bowlers mentally and physically made him a uniquely difficult obstacle.

During the 2018-19 Border-Gavaskar Trophy alone, Pujara faced a staggering 1,258 deliveries across four Test matches, scoring 521 runs and effectively breaking the spirit of the Australian pace trio.

The Australian skipper emphasized that game plans against Pujara required extreme patience and discipline, as any slight drop in accuracy would still yield no mistakes from the resolute batter.

As Australia prepare for future encounters against India, Cummins' reflections underscore the lasting impact left by Pujara's traditional Test match mastery on one of modern cricket's finest fast bowlers.