Cheteshwar Pujara Is The Toughest Batsman To Bowl To In Nets, Says Mohammed Shami

Cheteshwar Pujara is on another level when it comes to batting in the longest format of the game. Shami hailed Chjeteshwar Pujara for his brilliant batting skills and termed the Test specialist as the toughest batsman to bowl to in the nets.

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Amid the COVID-19 induced lockdown, team India's star speedster Mohammed Shami appeared for an exclusive chat on Instagram with abpnewstv and spoke his heart out. When asked to pick his favourite captain between MS Dhoni and Virat Kohli, Shami advised fans to applaud and hail what the duo have achieved for the country rather than comparing who is better. "I don't know why people keep on asking such controversial questions. It's not fair to compare Virat and Dhoni as both have their own unique ways of leading the side. Everyone knows Dhoni is Mr Cool and rarely loses his calm on the field, whereas Virat is someone who is aggressive and likes to sledge the opponents during the match," he said. Shami made his ODI debut against Pakistan in January 2013 against Pakistan. The right-arm fast bowler is now considered as an integral part of the Indian bowling attack. The speedster is known for his swing and seam bowling, especially the 'reverse swing'. However, it's not been an easy journey for Shami. "Every cricketer dreams of playing for his country. There are millions who want to play for the Indian cricket team. It is very important to give your 100 per cent and never shy away from improving every day. I started my career by representing a cricket club in Kolkata, and apart from cricket, understanding the local language and getting used to consuming the local food was also a challenge for me. I advise young players never to give up," Shami said when asked to give some insights on his struggling days. Pujara is on another level when it comes to batting in the longest format of the game. Shami hailed Chjeteshwar Pujara for his brilliant batting skills and termed the Test specialist as the toughest batsman to bowl to in the nets. "I am never scared to bowl to batsmen who have a tendency to hit the ball on most of the occasions but I do fear batsmen, like Cheteshwar Pujara, who have this goal to bat on the field as long as possible. Thank God, Pujara is in my team and not in the opposition as batters like him really test your skill and forces you to think hard on how to take a wicket," he revealed. Most of the bowlers have a habit of using saliva and sweat to shine the ball. However, once cricket resumes, players will now have to reconsider the practice post lockdown. Shami said he believes players should avoid using saliva to shine the ball as a precautionary measure. "We will play and practice according to the guidelines issued by the BCCI or the concerned authorities as players’ safety is something that cannot be overlooked," he said. The Indian cricket team is set to tour Australia for three ODIs and four Tests towards the end of 2020. However, there are doubts over the series due to the impact of the deadly fast-spreading coronavirus. Last time, team India under Virat Kohli's captaincy scripted history by defeating the Tim Paine-led Aussies on their home soil 2-1; becoming the first-ever Indian team to register a Test series win in Australia.