Cheteshwar Pujara, Indian Test cricket’s immovable wall, announced his retirement on Sunday after a shining 13-year career that embodied grit, determination, and old-fashioned batting perseverance. The 37-year-old veteran participated in 103 Tests, compiling 7,195 runs at 43.60 with 19 centuries. But even on his departure day, Pujara generated intrigue by including the four hardest bowlers he ever played against and none of them were Asian.
A Career Constructed on Resilience
Right from his first tour against Australia in 2010 to his last Test outing earlier this year, Pujara was the pillar of India’s batting. His innings weren’t always glamorous but bore substance, wearing down the world’s best attacks in the most challenging conditions.
A real warrior. He was instrumental in my stint as coach for India being the No1 side for 5 years on the trot and the 2 back to back series wins in Australia where he was simply brilliant. Well done Puji . God bless. @cheteshwar1 pic.twitter.com/4rpsngvnkP
— Ravi Shastri (@RaviShastriOfc) August 24, 2025
Former India coach Ravi Shastri, under whose leadership India had won two successive series in Australia, referred to Pujara as a “real warrior.” Shastri on X posted: “He was responsible for India being No. 1 Test team for 5 years consecutively and the two successive series victories in Australia. Well done Puji. God bless.”
The Four Bowlers Who Tested Him Most
Asked to think of his most challenging opponents, Pujara cited Dale Steyn, Morne Morkel, James Anderson, and Pat Cummins. Interestingly, all four are fast bowlers from non-Asian countries.
- Dale Steyn: South African pacer, famous for his deadly outswing and constant aggression, used to be a nightmare for top-order batsmen.
- Morne Morkel: Towering figure and intimidating presence, Morkel’s bounce and precision made it a challenge to survive.
- James Anderson: England’s king of swing, especially on cloudy days, unsettled even the greats with late action.
- Pat Cummins: The present Australian skipper blended speed, bounce, and consistency, quite often frightening Pujara in India’s historic victories Down Under.
The Mystery of Missing Names
The absence of any Asian bowlers on Pujara’s list raised eyebrows. Over a career spanning more than a decade, he faced legends like Ravichandran Ashwin in nets, Australia’s Josh Hazlewood, and even Sri Lanka’s Rangana Herath. Yet none found a place in his top four.
Was it a reflection of his own battles against raw pace and swing so much as spin? Or maybe a quiet comment on the type of opposition that challenged him the most? Pujara left the question hanging, leaving fans and pundits to speculate.
The Australian Epics
Pujara will always be remembered for his heroics in Australia. In the 2018–19 Border-Gavaskar Trophy, he scored 521 runs from four Tests at 74.42 average, with three centuries. In the 2020–21 series, despite his poor century record, his gritty finishes, including bruised 77 at The Gabba, became synonymous with India’s fighting spirit.
At home, Pujara was a colossus. In 278 first-class games, he accumulated 21,301 runs at a mind-boggling consistency, with 66 centuries and 81 half-centuries.
For India, Pujara wasn’t merely a run-scorer but a bulwark. He gave stroke-makers around him the liberty to thrive with his patience at the crease. While the cricketing fraternity wonders why there was no Asian bowler in his list of most difficult opponents, one thing is certain: Pujara himself will be remembered as one of the most difficult batters of his era.
