Ravi Shastri's Humorous Take on Cheteshwar Pujara's Batting Style

In a light-hearted moment during IPL 2026 commentary, Ravi Shastri humorously remarked on Cheteshwar Pujara's batting style, suggesting he would have resisted practicing the reverse-sweep. Pujara responded, explaining how such a shot wouldn't fit his traditional approach. The article also covers the thrilling match where Sunrisers Hyderabad chased down a massive target against Mumbai Indians, showcasing impressive performances from both teams. Discover more about this entertaining exchange and the match highlights.

By Narendra Chaudhary May 1, 2026, 02:12 IST

A Light-Hearted Commentary Moment

Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], April 30: Former Indian captain and head coach Ravi Shastri shared a humorous observation about Cheteshwar Pujara, one of India's top Test batsmen, suggesting that Pujara would have been reluctant to practice the reverse-sweep during his playing days.

This playful banter took place during a commentary session while Shastri was watching Heinrich Klaasen execute a switch-hit for a massive six against Allah Ghazanfar in the IPL 2026 match between Mumbai Indians (MI) and Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) at Wankhede Stadium.

While appearing on JioHotstar's 'Champions Waali Commentary', Shastri jested that if he had asked Pujara to practice the reverse sweep during his coaching period, the batter would have chased him down with a bat.

Shastri, who led the Indian team from 2017 to 2021, remarked, “Pujara, if I had suggested you practice the reverse sweep three years ago, you would have come after me with a bat, right?”

In response, Pujara explained that such a shot would not align with his Test batting approach, admitting that he likely would have been dismissed if he attempted it. “Ravi bhai, if I had played that shot in a Test match, I would have lost my stumps. It was tough for me to pull off that shot,” he stated.

Pujara, who has amassed 7,195 runs in 103 Test matches, is celebrated as one of India's finest Test batsmen, known for his solid defensive technique and classic shot selection. He retired from all forms of cricket in August 2025.

In the IPL 2026 match, SRH triumphed over the five-time champions MI by six wickets, successfully chasing down a daunting target of 243 runs.

With contributions from Travis Head (76 off 30 balls), Heinrich Klaasen (65* off 30 balls), Abhishek Sharma (45 off 24 balls), and Salil Arora (30* off 10 balls), SRH achieved the target with eight balls to spare. Head and Abhishek set a solid foundation with a 129-run opening partnership in just 52 balls, paving the way for the rest of the batting lineup. Earlier, MI had posted a formidable total of 243/5 in 20 overs, thanks to Ryan Rickelton's explosive unbeaten 123 off 55 balls.