IND vs ENG 2024: The one batter I didn’t like bowling to was Cheteshwar Pujara – Graeme Swann

Former England spinner Graeme Swann admitted the one batter he didn’t like bowling to was Cheteshwar Pujara. Swann revealed he didn’t like bowling to Pujara as he had nimble feet. Pujara is well known to use his feet while playing against the spinners.

On the other hand, Cheteshwar Pujara was recently not picked in the two-match Test series against South Africa. However, the veteran batter scored a fine double-century against Jharkhand in the Ranji Trophy to put himself in selection contention for the five-match Test series against England.

“The one batter I didn’t like bowling to was (Cheteshwar) Pujara because was very nimble on his feet,” Swann said in a podcast for Sky Sports Cricket.

Meanwhile, Swann bowled to the likes of Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, Virender Sehwag, VVS Laxman, and Sourav Ganguly but found Pujara most difficult to bowl to during his heydays.

Swann said, “It’s strange when I look back at the team they had — VVS Laxman, Virender Sehwag, Sachin Tendulkar, and Virat Kohli — and the one that I didn’t like bowling to was Pujara.”

The former off-spinner revealed that their plan was not to say anything to Virat Kohli as he is well known to thrive when put under the cosh.

“We had been told beforehand to not say anything to this bloke (Virat Kohli) because he absolutely revels in a battle in the field and he loves chasing down totals. We knew what he could do in the white-ball format but back then he hadn’t really done anything in Test cricket,” Swann said.

Swann also recalled an incident when former England lanky pacer Steven Finn got smashed by Virat Kohli after getting into a verbal spat with the Indian batter.

“Steven Finn got driven for a couple of incredible fours and he lost the plot and had a go at him and realised his mistake straight away. Virat roared up like a tiger and Finn just doubled down and got smashed everywhere,” Swann narrated.

The first Test match between India and England will be played in Hyderabad from 25 January onwards.