Pat Cummins named toughest Indian opponent [Source: AFP]Pat Cummins has faced some of the biggest names in modern cricket across his international career. From Alastair Cook to Saeed Ajmal and Chris Gayle, the Australian captain has shared the field with several players who could change a game on their own. However, when asked to name the toughest player he faced from each country, Pat Cummins went with a former Indian batter rather than two of India's most celebrated modern-day stars, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma.Pat Cummins names Cheteshwar Pujara as toughest Indian opponentFor India, Cummins picked Cheteshwar Pujara, a batter whose approach was almost the complete opposite of the high-tempo style associated with modern white-ball cricket.Cummins recalled just how difficult Pujara was to dismiss, highlighting the former India No.3's willingness to absorb pressure without chasing quick runs.“From India — I’m going to say Pujara. Really hard to get out. It’s just like death by a thousand paper cuts. He’s happy to face 100 dot balls and get one or two. He’s not going to give you a chance,” Cummins shared in a programme with Prime Video.Prime Video Sport AUNZ @pvsportaunz Pat Cummins has seriously rubbed shoulders with cricketing greatness in his career 🤩🏏 #PatCummins #ChrisGayle #ABDeVilliers #Cricket #UniverseBoss Sep 18, 2026, 12:30 PM The numbers from their Test battles offer some context to Pat Cummins' choice. Pujara scored 180 runs in 19 innings against the Australian quick, averaging 22.50, while Cummins dismissed him eight times. Cummins bowled 617 deliveries to Pujara, with a bowling strike rate of 77.12 and an economy rate of 1.75 in the matchup.Also Read- 27 Runs And A Wicket! Pat Cummins And Finn Allen Deliver A Chaotic IPL 2026 OverPujara's figures against Cummins were not dominant in terms of runs, but the matchup was clearly a recurring contest between Cummins' pace and Pujara's ability to occupy the crease.How has Cummins fared against Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma?Cummins has also had plenty of battles against Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma across all three formats. Their numbers provide a different picture from his contest with Pujara.Kohli's most productive numbers against Cummins came in ODIs, where he scored 174 runs at a strike rate of 99.42. In Tests, however, Cummins dismissed him five times in Test cricket. Meanwhile, Rohit Sharma has scored 131 Test runs against Pat Cummins, being dismissed eight times. In ODIs, the Indian opener accumulated 178 runs without being dismissed by Cummins in the supplied matchup data, while their T20I contest saw Rohit score 44 runs from four innings.Players from all countries whom Cummins feared the mostPujara was not the only unusual name in Cummins' list. The Australian picked players based on the particular challenge they presented rather than simply choosing the biggest run-scorers.For England, Cummins selected Alastair Cook and remembered his marathon knock at the MCG. “He just batted and batted for what felt like a month," Cummins said. Against Pakistan, Saeed Ajmal left a completely different impression. New Zealand's Brendon McCullum made the list for his aggressive approach at the top of the order, while South Africa's AB de Villiers was selected for his ability to shift gears across formats.“He had different gears. So in a T20 he would get down on one knee and sweep you, but in a Test match he would bat all day if he wanted to,” Cummins added.Sri Lanka's Tillakaratne Dilshan, the highest run-scorer in the 2009 T20 World Cup, was remembered for pioneering the Dil-scoop before it became a regular part of modern batting.And then came Chris Gayle, whose sheer presence made him a frightening opponent for Pat Cummins. “Tiny swing of the bat and still just hit a massive six. So he was scary,” Cummins concluded.Also Read- Adam Zampa Surpasses Shane Warne To Set World Record For Australia
