Australian captain Pat Cummins admitted Indian batter Cheteshwar Pujara was a thorn in their flesh in the previous two Border-Gavaskar series in Australia. Pujara had scored 521 runs at an average of 74.43 in four Test matches on the 2018-19 tour of Australia and thus played an instrumental role in India’s maiden win on the Australian shores.
The right-hander faced 1258 balls in the four-match Test series and breathed down the neck of the opposition bowlers with his solid defense. Furthermore, Pujara scored 271 runs in four Test matches on the 2020-21 tour of Australia at an average of 33.88.
Pat Cummins said on Star Sports Press Room, “It was always great playing (against) Pujara. He was one of those guys who never really felt like he was getting away from you. But then he would (just) bat, bat, bat and bat. I really enjoyed the contest against him. Some days he won, other days I won. It’s going to have a bit of a different feel without him. Pujara is a great player. I had lots of battles against him over the years. I quite enjoyed them, to be honest. It was real Test cricket.”
“He might score runs, but you always feel like you’re in for a chance. It comes down to almost who wants to outlast each other, which I quite like that aspect of Test cricket. It’s going to be a shame that he is not there, but I’m sure they’ll pick someone else who’s in a similar kind of style.”
On the other hand, Cummins also believes the India-Australia rivalry is right up there with the Ashes rivalry between England and Australia.
“I do think it is. Particularly, after the Indian team won the last couple of series at (our) home. We’ve had more success against England over the past decade. I think it’s right up there. You know when you play against India, you’ve got a few Indian fans that are watching. It’s a slightly different rivalry to the England-Australia rivalry. But again, now having a five-Test match series, it does mirror the Ashes series very closely.”
“Winning (in) Test cricket away from home is as tough as it gets in our sport and India have done that around the world. They are really, really good at home but also, one of the better teams to travel as well — that’s their reputation.”
The opening Test match between India and Australia will be played in Perth from November 22 onwards but this time Pujara will not be part of India’s Test squad.
