Pujara Rates Younis Khan as a Superior Spin Player

Indian Test batter Cheteshwar Pujara has recognized former Pakistani skipper Younis Khan as a more accomplished player of spin bowling compared to himself.

In a video featured on a cricket-focused Instagram account, Pujara, who has played 103 Test matches, was asked to identify batsmen he considered better than him at handling spin.

When presented with a list of prominent players including Mushfiqur Rahim, David Warner, Dean Elgar, Ross Taylor, Jonny Bairstow, Rohit Sharma, and AB de Villiers, Pujara refrained from making a definitive choice.

He offered a hesitant “maybe” regarding Joe Root, stopping short of fully endorsing the English star as a superior spin player.

Upon hearing Virat Kohli’s name, the right-handed batsman conceded his teammate’s prowess against spin.

“I’d say we’re on par. His stats suggest he is a capable player of spin,” he commented.

Addressing Steve Smith and Kane Williamson, Pujara lauded their performances, especially against India, but indicated that direct comparisons in the context of spin are challenging.

“They’ve accumulated runs facing India, and their statistics are solid. However, it’s difficult to compare myself to them when it comes to spin. Nevertheless, they are top-tier players,” Pujara stated.

However, when Younis Khan’s name was mentioned, the 37-year-old immediately responded.

“Younis Khan—I’d have to admit he surpasses me,” he acknowledged.

Notably, the former Pakistani legend holds the record for the most Test runs for his nation and remains the sole Pakistani batsman to exceed 10,000 runs in the format.

He amassed 10,099 runs with an average of 52.06 in 118 Tests, which includes 34 centuries.