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Former Indian batter Cheteshwar Pujara has identified the four bowlers who tested him the most throughout his international career, shortly after announcing his retirement from cricket.
Pujara officially brought the curtain down on his career on Sunday, retiring from all forms of Indian cricket.
Having made his debut in 2010, he represented India in 103 Tests and five ODIs, scoring 7,195 Test runs at an average of 43.60, including 19 centuries and 35 fifties.
In an interview with Indian media on Sunday, the 37-year-old named South Africa’s Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel, England’s James Anderson, and Australia’s Pat Cummins as the most difficult opponents he encountered at the crease.
The numbers reflect his struggles against them. Cheteshwar Pujara averaged 30 against Steyn and only 18 against Morkel, falling to the Proteas pair on six occasions.
His record against Anderson was even more challenging, averaging 21.80 while being dismissed 12 times by the English seamer. Against Cummins, he averaged 22.50 with eight dismissals.
He averaged an impressive 52.58 at home, with 3,839 runs to his name, while his final appearance came in the World Test Championship final against Australia at The Oval in June 2023.
Pujara also holds a unique distinction in Indian cricket, being one of only three players, alongside ML Jaisimha and Ravi Shastri, to bat on all five days of a Test match.
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