Cheteshwar Pujara Leaves Out Big Names, Surprises With His Toughest Bowlers List

SportsBettingMarkets » Cric News India » Cheteshwar Pujara Leaves Out Big Names, Surprises With His Toughest Bowlers List

Cric News India

August 25, 2025 0 490

Cheteshwar Pujara named Dale Steyn, Morne Morkel, James Anderson, and Pat Cummins as the toughest bowlers he faced in his career.

Cheteshwar Pujara ended his international career on Sunday, August 24, after playing 103 Tests for India between 2010 and 2023. Pujara scored 7195 runs in his 13-year career and built a reputation as one of India’s most dependable Test specialists.

Reflecting on his time at the crease, he revealed the bowlers who challenged him the most. Pujara named South Africa’s Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel, England’s James Anderson, and Australia’s Pat Cummins as the toughest to face. Steyn collected 65 wickets in 14 Tests against India, while Morkel dismissed 58 in 17 matches. Cummins has taken 75 Indian wickets in 18 appearances, and Anderson stands out with 149 wickets in 39 Tests.

“Across my career, Dale Steyn, Morne Morkel, James Anderson, and Pat Cummins have been among the most challenging bowlers I’ve faced,” Pujara told the Times of India.

Cheteshwar Pujara Reveals Reason for Retirement

Earlier, Pujara had explained that he decided to retire before the new Ranji Trophy season to ensure younger players receive more chances at both domestic and international levels.

READ ALSO | Ex-Pakistan Cricketer Points to Suryakumar Yadav’s Weak Link Before Pakistan Match

“See, I didn’t think much about it earlier. From about a week I thought a little that this is the right time. So today when I took this decision, it is quite a proud moment for me and for my whole family. On this day I want to thank all my teammates, my coaches and all the support staff I worked with, because this is a proud moment for me. Representing the Indian team, from childhood, when I was small, it was always a dream to play for India. When that dream got completed and for so many years this journey went on, we created so many memories, so there are many proud moments in my career till now,” Pujara was quoted as saying by India Today.

“This was my personal call and I decided that this is the right time, especially when young players should get opportunities in domestic cricket. Earlier, I thought maybe I will play this Ranji season, but then I felt that if young players get the opportunity, they will be ready sooner. So this was my personal call. About the past few years when I wasn’t part of the Indian team, I don’t want too speak much,” he added.