Former Indian batter Cheteshwar Pujara shared the names of the four toughest bowlers he faced in his career after announcing his retirement from international cricket.

In a post-retirement interview with Indian media, the 37-year-old named two South African pacers, one from England, and one from Australia. He said Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel from South Africa, James Anderson from England, and Pat Cummins from Australia were the most difficult bowlers for him.

Pujara’s record against South Africa in Tests was not strong. He scored at an average of 30.41 in 17 matches with only one century. His numbers were worse in South Africa, where he averaged just 28.15 in 19 innings.

Also Read -Cheteshwar Pujara vs Sourav Ganguly – Statistical Comparison After 103 Test Matches

Pujara’s Struggles Against Top Bowlers

The numbers show how much Pujara struggled against them. Against Dale Steyn, he averaged only 30, while his average fell further to 18 against Morne Morkel. Together, the South African duo dismissed him six times.

Against James Anderson, Pujara averaged just 21.80 in Tests and was out to the English pacer 12 times. Pat Cummins also troubled him, dismissing him eight times while Pujara averaged 22.50 against him.

Pujara announced his retirement from all forms of Indian cricket on Sunday. He played 103 Tests and five ODIs after making his debut in 2010. He scored 7,195 Test runs at an average of 43.60, including 19 centuries and 35 fifties. At home, he averaged 52.58 with 3,839 runs. His last Test was the WTC final against Australia at The Oval in June 2023.

He is also one of only three Indian players, alongside ML Jaisimha and Ravi Shastri, to bat on all five days of a Test match. Interestingly, Pujara did not include Jasprit Bumrah among the toughest bowlers, as he faced him only once in IPL 2024 and scored four runs off five balls.

Former Indian batter Cheteshwar Pujara picked the four toughest bowlers he faced during his career, via TOI. pic.twitter.com/uR9LB6mk9J

— CricTracker (@Cricketracker) August 25, 2025

Pujara’s Five Best Knocks

Pujara also picked his five favourite Test innings. His first choice was 145* in Sri Lanka in 2015, a comeback innings that helped India win the series 2-1. His second was 123 against Australia in Adelaide in the 2018/19 Border-Gavaskar Trophy, where India went on to win the series 2-1.

His next two picks were double centuries against England and Australia at home in the 2012/13 season, both in winning causes. His final choice was the fighting 92 against Australia in Bengaluru in 2017, which helped India level the series 1-1.

Pujara ended his career with 7,195 Test runs at an average of 43.60, including 19 centuries, in 103 matches.

When India picked up a couple of key wickets late on the fourth day of the fifth Test against England at the Kennington Oval, nobody expected the game to drift into the fifth day. But the poor weather has taken it into the final day of the trip, with the home side needing 35 runs for four wickets in hand, given Chris Woakes walks out to bat with a broken shoulder. 

India’s bowling coach, Morne Morkel, urged his side to keep fighting on the fifth day of the affair at the Oval. The former Protea pacer felt that they could script an unlikely victory by claiming the final four scalps in the morning of the fifth day, having broken the crucial stand between Joe Root and Harry Brook.

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‘You can't afford to throw in the towel in a very important Test match, and for us it was key. To break that partnership, get a new batter in, we've seen it so many times before, where if you get one (breakthrough), you can easily get one or two and just create a bit of pressure around that.’ Morkel expressed in the press conference.

Morne Morkel urges India to keep fighting on day 5 of ENG vs IND 5th Test

‘For us to stay calm and work hard to break that partnership and from there, just to get the ball in the right area. Tomorrow we can just focus on doing a good warm-up, get the boys ready to hopefully get the ball in the right area and create a little bit of excitement again.’ The lanky pacer expressed the blueprint.

Mohamed Siraj would play a major part in the game, having already been the leading wicket-taker of the series with 20 scalps, as Morkel was thrilled to see the fiery effort of the Hyderabad-born and praised him for his effort.

‘I think he leads a lot of actions in this series. So far, he's done it with the ball at times that we've needed somebody to put his hand up and create something, even if it was bowling an extra two overs, three overs, or creating an opportunity for us; he's been that guy. So he's put in the effort, and it's just nice to see the rewards.’ Morkel concluded.

India's upcoming fifth and final Test against England at The Oval may mark the debut of left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh. With the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy tilted 2-1 in England's favor, the Indian team management is considering changes to the bowling attack. Jasprit Bumrah, who has been India’s pace spearhead throughout the series, might be rested to manage his workload. In such a scenario, Arshdeep's inclusion could provide the side with a fresh and strategic option in the pace department for this crucial encounter.

Arshdeep, aged 25, was initially in contention for a debut in the fourth Test in Manchester. However, a thumb injury sustained during a practice session in Beckenham dashed those hopes. He required stitches and underwent a brief rehabilitation period. Now fully fit, Arshdeep has returned to training and bowled with full intensity during an optional net session ahead of the final Test, signalling his readiness to step onto the red-ball stage.

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As per a TOI report, Arshdeep had been part of the management’s plans for the last two matches. With Bumrah’s possible exclusion and concerns over Mohammed Siraj's physical strain, Arshdeep’s inclusion could restore balance in the pace unit. His childhood coach, Jaswant Rai, has voiced his support, stating that Arshdeep is ready for the challenges of Test cricket. This opportunity could mark a pivotal moment in the young pacer’s red-ball journey.

Arshdeep Singh Trains Intensively with Bowling Coach Morne Morkel Ahead of Potential Test Debut

Arshdeep Singh, fresh off a stellar T20 World Cup campaign where he finished as the joint-highest wicket-taker with 17 wickets, played a key role in India’s title win, especially with a match-defining 19th over in the final. Despite his achievements in the shorter format, Arshdeep has always expressed a desire to represent India in Test cricket. Over the past month, he has worked intensively with bowling coach Morne Morkel to sharpen his red-ball skills, preparing himself for the longer format. His determination could finally pay off with a debut in the final Test at The Oval.

In the likely bowling combination for the Oval Test, Arshdeep may join Mohammed Siraj and Akash Deep in the pace attack. The decision on Jasprit Bumrah’s inclusion will be taken closer to match day, given ongoing workload concerns. Meanwhile, Kuldeep Yadav is also being considered to replace Shardul Thakur, offering a wrist-spin variation. With the series standing at 2-1, India will look to level it in the final game.

India Probable playing XI

Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Sai Sudharsan, Shubman Gill(c), Dhruv Jurel(w), Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Akash Deep, Arshdeep Singh, Mohammed Siraj

As per reports, the Board of Cricket for India (BCCI) is mulling over to part ways with India's assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate and India's bowling coach Morne Morkel. The duo may see their tenure come to an end following the conclusion of the Asia Cup 2025. The decision will be independent of the outcome of the current Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy series. 

But on the contrary, Indian head coach Gautam Gambhir, who is at the helm, will continue to serve as the head coach for the men's team for the foreseeable future. The Indian coaching staff has come under the scanner following the team's poor show, especially in overseas Test tours. Gambhir, too, has not been able to evade the blame and the wrath of the Indian fans. 

See also: OTD: India defeated Sri Lanka by miles with Shikhar Dhawan's career best total in Test

 

 

 

 

 

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Under Gambhir's mentorship, India stooped to new lows that have previously not been seen with the earlier coaching personnel. The team lost to New Zealand 0-3 at home, recording the first instance ever when a team whitewashed India in a test series at home. Moving on to the Border-Gavaskar Test series in Australia, Gambhir faced a challenging assignment as India were humiliated by 3-1 and missed securing a spot in the WTC final for the first time in three editions. 

As for the current Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, the team has shown some fight, but the results have been far from ideal. The hard-fought draw in Manchester has kept India alive, but only just. India are still behind in the series by 1-2, and Gambhir & Co.. could be starting at yet another overseas Test series defeat.

Morkel has also had to share a lot of the blame, especially after the Indian bowlers faltered immensely during the fourth Test, allowing England to comfortably cruise to 669. According to the top BCCI officials, Morkel hasn't been able to bolster the competitive edge of the bowlers. Besides, they also questioned the exact role of ten Doeschate and wondered if he was at all any help to the team. 

These sweeping changes are expected to take effect later in the month of September. A formal communication from the BCCI is awaited in the coming days. As far as the series is concerned, India have one more game to go to square the series 2-2 at the Kia Oval. 

After India conceded over 500 runs for the first time in more than a decade outside Asia and the West Indies, questions poured in about their bowling strategy, most notably, the delayed introduction of Washington Sundar into the attack on Day 3. The offspinner ended up taking two wickets and brought some control, but his late arrival into the bowling mix has drawn scrutiny.

India’s bowling coach Morne Morkel admitted that there were “no easy answers” to the issues plaguing the attack in Manchester. He acknowledged a visible drop in pace, the underutilisation of allrounder Shardul Thakur, and Sundar’s late deployment. However, the one thing Morkel was firm about was India's selection logic, which he said continues to be driven by a desire to strengthen the batting depth.

Kuldeep Yadav’s continued absence despite his outstanding recent form remained a key talking point. “Kuldeep is world-class, and he's bowling really well at the moment. But unfortunately, to maintain that balance with batting throws it out a little bit,” Morkel explained. “We’ve seen in the past that we’ve lost wickets in clumps. So for now, it’s about extending our batting line-up.”

India has consistently opted for an extra batter or bowling allrounder, often at the expense of a specialist strike bowler like Kuldeep. Morkel insisted this was less about playing safe and more about giving the team a shot at putting 400-plus scores on the board, something he considers critical against England’s attacking style of play.

Late Use of Washington: Missed Opportunity?

Sundar was the last bowler brought into the attack, despite visible signs of turn and a dry pitch. When he did bowl, he made an immediate impact. But Morkel backed stand-in captain Shubman Gill’s decision to delay spin, saying the seamers were expected to exploit the early movement.

“In the first couple of days, we saw the ball moving around, seaming and swinging. So pace on the ball looked like the way to go,” Morkel said. “Shubman made the call to stick longer with the team. When Washington got his chance today, he did a great job.”

ALSO SEE: OTD: Umpire's controversial decision helped England to win over Pakistan at Leeds

Dip in Pace and Energy

Morkel admitted India’s fast bowlers lacked “zip” on Day 2, failing to bowl with the energy required on a flat pitch. “You need that extra energy off the surface to force mistakes, catches behind, LBWs. We went a bit too straight yesterday and leaked runs.”

He also pointed to the heavy workloads of bowlers like Siraj and the debut of Anshul Kamboj, who was chosen over Prasidh Krishna for his accuracy and ability to bowl long spells. But Kamboj operated in the high 120s and lacked penetration.

Shardul Thakur’s Limited Use

Thakur, too, hardly bowled on Day 3, as India preferred their strike bowlers. “It’s tough when you’re going at five and over. The captain wants to go back to his wicket-takers. That’s what happened again today,” said Morkel.

In sum, while Washington Sundar’s belated introduction was arguably a tactical oversight given the pitch conditions, India’s broader challenge lies in balancing their XI. For now, they’re erring on the side of batting depth even if it means holding back a match-turning bowler or two.

India endured a tough outing on Day 3 of the ongoing Test at Old Trafford, Manchester, as they were made to field throughout the day. After being bowled out for 358 in their first innings, the visitors struggled to contain a dominant England batting line-up. By stumps, England had posted a mammoth 544/7, taking a commanding lead of 186 runs. With the hosts expected to bat further on Day 4, India’s bowlers will face another stern test. The lack of breakthroughs and mounting pressure have left the team on the back foot heading into the penultimate day.

Following the day's play, India’s bowling coach Morne Morkel addressed the media and admitted concerns over the team’s bowling performance. He noted a clear lack of energy and bite among the pace attack and pointed out a significant dip in speed and intensity from the fast bowlers. Morkel acknowledged that the Indian seamers failed to generate the kind of pressure needed on a pitch that didn’t offer much assistance. He emphasized the need for improved rhythm and sharper execution as India looks to bounce back in the remainder of the match.

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"We are trying to wrap our heads around it. Not too much to judge in that, but it was a heavy outfield. But we need energy on the ball on a surface like this," India's bowling coach told reporters at the end of day's play on day 3.

We were much better today with the ball: Morne Morkel

The dip in Jasprit Bumrah's pace has become a worrying trend for India in the ongoing Test. At Headingley, 39.84% of his deliveries crossed the 140 kmph mark, while at Lord's, it was 26.84%. However, at Old Trafford, only one of his 173 deliveries (including no-balls) exceeded that speed, just 0.57%. This sharp decline reflects the fatigue or possible fitness concerns plaguing India’s pace spearhead. As the team heads into Day 4, Bumrah’s lack of pace and penetration could pose a serious threat to their chances of bouncing back in the match.

India's bowling unit struggled to make inroads on Day 3, as England ended with a massive 544/7, enjoying a commanding lead of 186 runs. Joe Root's masterclass of 150 and Ollie Pope's crucial 71 kept the Indian attack at bay, marking the first time since 2015 that India conceded over 500 runs in an overseas Test innings. Despite the struggles, bowling coach Morne Morkel noted a slight improvement in discipline from the previous day, although the lack of intensity and penetration remained a concern heading into a crucial Day 4.

"We were much better today with the ball. Yesterday was a tough day. Siraj and Boom (Bumrah) started well today. Both Bumrah and Siraj had injury scares before Tea, leaving the field in discomfort. Morkel downplayed the concerns, saying, "Bumrah rolled his ankle going down the stairs, Siraj also rolled his ankle. Both are fine. India handed a debut to Anshul Kamboj in this crucial Test, who has just the one wicket of Ben Duckett to show for, which came on Day 2. "We needed someone who could bowl volume and is accurate. His name was in the mix for a long time," Morkel said.

Team India’s preparations for the second Test against England in Birmingham took a light-hearted turn when bowling coach Morne Morkel was spotted playfully wrestling with pacers Arshdeep Singh and Akash Deep during a net session. The fun moment came as India looked to bounce back in the series, having lost the opening Test in Leeds, where England took a 1-0 lead in the five-match series. The second Test is scheduled to begin on Wednesday, July 2, at the Edgbaston Cricket Ground.

The Indian squad has already reached Birmingham and has begun training in earnest. During one of the practice sessions, cameras captured Morne Morkel engaging Arshdeep Singh in a friendly wrestling tussle, which soon turned into a fun three-way battle as Akash Deep joined in. The moment brought smiles to the faces of the support staff and players, helping ease the tension in the camp following their defeat at Headingley.

Neither Arshdeep Singh nor Akash Deep featured in India’s playing XI for the first Test, where the team opted to go with Prasidh Krishna and Mohammed Siraj as their main pace options. Whether the second Test sees changes in the bowling lineup remains to be seen, but the team appears to be in good spirits heading into the clash.

“Pressure is Mounting on Gautam Gambhir”: Aakash Chopra on India’s Red-Ball Struggles

Meanwhile, former India cricketer Aakash Chopra voiced concerns about the growing pressure on head coach Gautam Gambhir amid India’s poor performances in Test cricket. Speaking on his YouTube channel, Aakash Chopra remarked, "Everyone will be questioned. It's cricket's principle in our country. If things go well, everyone is given credit, but when things go wrong, criticism is absolutely obvious. I will still be more patient with Gill because he has become the captain just now. So he will take time to understand things. However, the pressure is mounting on Gautam Gambhir."

Watch the video here

The WWE fight between Arshdeep Singh and Morne Morkel in today's practice at Birmingham. 😀❤️ (Raysportz Cricket).

pic.twitter.com/iad875ozyS

— Tanuj (@ImTanujSingh) June 28, 2025

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Chopra highlighted India’s underwhelming record in red-ball cricket under Gambhir’s tenure, saying, "If you look at his returns in red-ball cricket, you will find that he has won very few matches. They won two matches against Bangladesh, one against Australia, lost three against New Zealand, then lost three against Australia, and then lost one against England. So we are only losing, we aren't winning." As the team regroup itself for the second Test, all eyes will be on both players and management in making it a turnaround.

India bowling coach Morne Morkel believes that Nitish Kumar Reddy has the ability to bowl 'magical' deliveries. However, he has urged the talented all-rounder to take more responsibility with the ball during the upcoming five-Test series against England.

Reddy, who scored a century in the Boxing Day Test against Australia at the MCG last year, is currently in the race for the seam-bowling all-rounder's spot alongside Shardul Thakur. While Thakur has the experience of playing 11 Test matches, Reddy is being seen as a more versatile option, especially in English conditions. Although Morkel did not confirm whether Reddy or Thakur will play in the first Test at Leeds, he highlighted the need for the right team balance.

"I think he (Reddy) is skilled. He is someone who can bowl the magic ball. So for him, it's about being consistent, and we want to work on that. It’s important for his overall game as well," Morkel said during India's training session.

"I had a chat with him and asked him to bowl more. I want to see the ball in his hands more often. We all know what he can do with the bat. But for the team, having extra bowling options—especially in these conditions—is a big plus. I think he will enjoy the challenge and get better with his bowling," he added.

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Morkel also said, “We have discussed a lot about how we will face England, and I think so far, we are moving in the right direction with our preparation. It will be important for our players to execute the plans well on match day.”

He also expressed confidence in the Indian team’s planning. He said, “I think we have covered all the important areas. But now, the main focus is on being fit for the Test match, staying ready, and playing with full passion. It’s been a while since we played a Test.”

MORNE MORKEL ON NITISH KUMAR REDDY:

"I think Nitish is skillful, he is a guy who can bowl the magical ball, so for him, it's about creating consistency - that is something we want to work on - it's important for his game as well". [Press] pic.twitter.com/OPl4hgcYu9

— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) June 12, 2025

Morkel highlighted the need for players to be fit and match-ready to stay on the field for 90 overs. He said, “So far, we have had only three practice sessions. In two days, we have a four-day practice match against India A. I’m more interested in seeing how our players perform in that match.”

He added, “It will take some time for the players to get used to spending long hours on the field and playing 90 overs. We need to understand that and have patience. This will be a real test for us, and we must prepare for it as quickly as possible.”

The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 is less than 48 hours away and Team India will start their journey in the tournament on February 20. In this crucial moment, the Indian cricket team has received a shocking blow as a key member of the team has been returning home due to a personal emergency. 

Morne Morkel likely leaving the camp due to a personal emergency

While Team India is in Dubai for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, bowling coach Morne Morkel is likely to leave, if not already, for home due to a personal emergency. There is no official confirmation but the Times of India has reported that Morkel was not present during Team India's practice session on Monday (February 17), which was their first practice session under the light in the tour. 

Although the TOI report hasn't disclosed any reason yet, the report has talked about the former South African pacer's possibly leaving the camp immediately. As it is the news about personal emergencies and immediate possible departure, there is no clarity about his return to the team. 

Morkel arrived in Dubai with Team India last Saturday (February 15) and was present in the afternoon practice session last Sunday (February 16).  

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Eight teams are ready for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025

ICC Champions Trophy 2025 is set to start on Wednesday (February 19). The tournament is returning after eight years, while Pakistan is ready to host their first ICC tournament after the 1996 World Cup. Eight teams are ready to participate as the teams are India, Australia, England, South Africa, Bangladesh, New Zealand, Afghanistan, and the hosts as well as the defending champions Pakistan. Only India will play all their matches of the tournament in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates, while all other teams will play the tournament in Pakistan, except for India's fixtures.

Two-time ICC Champions Trophy winners and four-time tournament Finalists, India will start their journey in the tournament with their Group A match against Bangladesh on Thursday (February 20). On Sunday (February 23), India will face Pakistan in Dubai. New Zealand will be their last group stage challenge, which has been scheduled for March 2. 

If India finish among the top two of the final Group A points table, they will play the Semi-final in Dubai on March 4, which also has a reserve-day. If India qualify for the Final, the Final will be played in Dubai on March 9, which also has a reserve-day. 

During the recently concluded India tour of Australia, the Indian cricket team dressing room was tense for various internal reasons. Now, the new reports claim that the head coach Gautam Gambhir scolded the bowling coach Morne Morkel for coming late to the ground. 

The Australia tour was the first key foreign tour for India under the new coaching team, including Gautam Gambhir and Morne Morkel. Although India started the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25, a five-match Test series in Australia, with a historic victory by 295 runs in Perth, India lost the Test series by a 3-1 margin. It was the first time in the last eight years that India lost the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

With the downfall of the Indian team in that Australia tour, the Indian team dressing room seemed broken to the cricket fans. Captain Rohit Sharma even decided to drop himself for the last Test of the series due to poor form. Although he clarified his stance just for the sake of the team in the Test series and everything was ok inside the dressing room, the tense situation is still on.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) recently held a meeting between the officials, head coach, captain, and chief selector to discuss the underperformance in the Australia tour.

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Gautam Gambhir scolded Morne Morkel

According to a new report, during the Australia tour, head coach Gambhir scolded the bowling coach Morkel for coming late to the ground in a training session due to attending a personal meeting. The board is reportedly looking at the incident and trying to bring a resolution to avoid these in the future. 

It is not the first time Gambhir and Morkel have been working together. They previously worked together for the IPL team Lucknow Super Giants, and Gambhir reportedly suggested Morkel's name as the bowling coach for the Indian team. However, Gambhir is always known for his strict discipline. 

Coaches are also under scrutiny

Apart from the senior cricketers, the coaching teams are also under scrutiny, especially the batting coach Abhishek Nayar. In the entire Australia tour, the Indian batters couldn’t showcase their improvements, which played a huge role in the Test series defeat.