Cheteshwar Pujara names Australia star as toughest bowler to face in international cricket

Cheteshwar Pujara has had some epic battles with Australian bowlers in Test cricket over the years.

Cheteshwar Pujara has faced a fair amount of bowlers who could be called the best of their generation over the course of his long and distinguished career in Test cricket. Some of his most memorable battles, though, have come against Australia in Test matches both home and away.

Pujara has faced some of the best bowlers of their generation in his long career (AP)

Pujara has saved some of the best innings of his career for the Australians. Most notably, he had led India's comeback after a stunning defeat in the first Test against Australia at home in the 2016/17 series with a succession of epic knocks, including a 525-ball innings in which he scored 202 runs. It is hence no surprise that when asked which he thinks is the toughest bowler to face currently in the world, it was an Australian. “I'll go with Pat Cummins. In Australia,” said Pujara on ESPNCricinfo.

The Australian Test captain has been the no.1 ranked Test bowler in the world for nearly four years and is set to play an important role when they tour India four four Test matches next month. Pujara also jokingly said that Josh Hazlewood would be the Australian bowler who doesn't want to see him again considering the number of times he has ground them to dust with his patient batting. "I think Josh Hazlewood. He has already said that during one of the team meetings he mentioned that he wouldn't want to see my face," said Pujara.

Pujara said that he would like to learn how top play the straight drive like Sachin Tendulkar and he would've liked to face Australia great Glenn McGrath among former players. He couldn't really make up his mind about who his favourite batting partner is though. “I think it will be a touch choice. I have had many partnerships with Murali Vijay, Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane,” he said.