Key Points

Cheteshwar Pujara surprised fans by naming Younis Khan as a superior player of spin bowling compared to modern stars like Virat Kohli and Steve Smith. He acknowledged Kohli's strong stats but hesitated when Joe Root's name came up. Pujara dismissed comparisons with Smith and Kane Williamson despite their impressive records. The Indian batter ultimately conceded that Younis Khan's technique and numbers make him the best against spin.

Key Points: Pujara Names Younis Khan as Better Spin Player Than Kohli Smith

  • Pujara ranks Younis Khan above modern greats in spin mastery
  • Rates Kohli as "par" compared to himself
  • Dismisses Smith and Williamson despite strong records
  • Highlights Root as a "maybe" in spin proficiency
2 min read

Not Kohli or Smith: Pujara picks player who plays spin better than him

Cheteshwar Pujara picks Pakistan legend Younis Khan over Virat Kohli, Steve Smith, and others as the best player of spin bowling in Tests.

"I would have to say he is better than me. – Cheteshwar Pujara on Younis Khan"

New Delhi, June 18

India's seasoned batter Cheteshwar Pujara picked out former Pakistan maestro Younis Khan as the player who can play spinners better than him, ahead of modern-day stars including Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Steve Smith, Kane Williamson and others in the Test format.

In a video posted by ESPNcricinfo on social media, Pujara faced some tough choices while picking out a player who is a better spin player than him. After a couple of names passed by, England's talismanic batter Joe Root's name popped up, and Pujara had one word to describe it: "Maybe".

Pujara was then tested by Virat Kohli's name to which he replied, "I would say par, in terms of stats, his numbers suggest that he is a good player of spin."

Australia's Steve Smith and New Zealand's Williamson's names were not enough to sway Pujara's mind, and he said, "They have scored runs against India; the numbers are good. It is hard to compare myself when it comes to spin, but they are good players."

Finally, when Younis Khan's name came up, Pujara admitted, "I would have to say he is better than me."

Younis regularly tormented spinners in red-ball format with his impeccable technique and swashbuckling strokeplay. He mustered up 4449 runs in 151 innings at a stellar average of 75.40 while losing his wicket 59 times.

Virat managed 3938 runs in 151 innings and maintained an average of 55.46 while striking at 57.03. His contemporary Steve Smith has conjured 4083 runs in 161 innings at 60.94 and has lost his wicket on 67 occasions.

On the other hand, Kane Williamson has 3784 runs under his belt at 65.24 and has been dismissed 58 times in 134 innings. England's highest run-getter in Tests, Joe Root, boasts 4957 runs, averaging 60.45 in 209 innings and has lost his wicket 82 times in the process.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

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Rahul K.
Pujara showing true sportsmanship by acknowledging Younis Khan's mastery! That's why we love Test cricket - respect for technique over flashy shots. Younis was a nightmare for our spinners during his time. 🇮🇳🤝🇵🇰
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Priya M.
Interesting how Pujara rates Kohli as "par" while others get "maybe" 😄 But stats don't lie - Younis Khan's average of 75 against spin is insane! Shows how Test cricket needs different skills than limited overs.
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Amit S.
As much as I admire Pujara's honesty, I wish he had shown more confidence in himself. He's our modern-day Dravid against spin! Remember his marathon innings in Australia? 💪
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Sneha R.
Stats show Younis was clearly better, but let's not forget Pujara himself averages 54+ in India where we produce rank turners. That's no small achievement! Both legends in their own right.
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Vikram J.
Surprised no mention of Laxman or Dravid in this comparison! Our own players from 2000s were spin wizards too. Maybe Pujara being modest as usual - typical of his character on and off field.
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Neha T.
The way Pujara analyzed each player shows his deep understanding of the game. Not many current players would be this objective when comparing themselves to rivals. Class act! 👏

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