Australia captain
The admission came during a promotional feature for Prime Video Sport, where Cummins was tasked with selecting his toughest opponents from several major cricketing nations. When the conversation turned to India, the Australian skipper did not hesitate to highlight the difficulty of dismantling Pujara’s defensive technique.
The challenge of facing Pujara
Describing the experience of bowling to the veteran batter, Cummins likened the ordeal to a slow, methodical struggle. He noted that Pujara’s willingness to absorb pressure and remain at the crease for extended periods made him a uniquely difficult wicket to secure. According to Cummins, the batter was perfectly content to face large numbers of dot balls without offering a scoring opportunity or a chance for the fielding side, a trait he described as being like death by a thousand papercuts.
Pujara’s record against Australia supports this assessment of his tenacity. Across 25 Test matches against the Australians, he amassed 2,074 runs at an impressive average of 49.38. His impact was particularly felt on Australian soil, where he scored 993 runs, including three centuries and five half-centuries, with a top score of 193. His performances were central to India's success in the 2018-19 and 2020-21
Cummins reflects on international rivals
Beyond the Indian contingent, Cummins shared his picks for the most difficult players he has faced from other nations. For New Zealand, he selected former captain Brendon McCullum, citing the aggressive intent the opener displayed during their encounters. His choice for Pakistan was former spinner Saeed Ajmal, recalling a specific instance where he was bowled by the spinner immediately upon arriving at the crease.
The Australian captain also named Sir Alastair Cook from England, AB de Villiers from South Africa, Tillakaratne Dilshan from Sri Lanka, and Chris Gayle from the West Indies as the standout opponents from those respective countries. Pujara, who retired from international cricket last year, concluded his career with 7,195 Test runs, including 19 centuries and 35 fifties across 103 appearances.
