Pujara Raises Alarm Over India's Bowling Attack: 'Ability to Take 20 Wickets Is Lacking
4 hours ago | 5 Views
Since the commencement of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia in November, there have been ongoing discussions regarding the composition of the Indian team, particularly concerning the bowling unit. With Ravichandran Ashwin's recent announcement of his retirement from international cricket, the spin department is now facing a significant deficit in experience, which poses challenges for the visitors, especially given that the upcoming Tests in Melbourne and Sydney may favour slower bowlers.
Indian batsman Cheteshwar Pujara has raised concerns about the bowling lineup. He indicated that if Ravindra Jadeja and Nitish Kumar Reddy are selected as the fourth and fifth bowlers, the effectiveness of the bowling attack may be compromised.
In an interview with Star Sports, Pujara stated, "My primary concern revolves around the apparent weakness in the Indian bowling. While the batting has shown some promise, particularly in the middle and lower order with contributions from Ravindra Jadeja, Nitesh, and even the tail-enders like Bumrah and Akash Deep, the bowling remains a significant issue."
He further elaborated, "The critical question is what combination will be fielded, as it is not feasible to exclude Nitish or Jadeja. With Ashwin's retirement, I doubt that the team will opt for two spinners in Melbourne."
How will you strengthen your bowling?
Pujara believes that Rohit Sharma and Gautam Gambhir must explore strategies to enhance their bowling attack if they aim to secure the Border-Gavaskar Trophy for the third consecutive time in Australia.
"How do you plan to bolster the bowling? The three seamers are quite effective, but their supporting roles need attention. Nitesh Kumar serves as the fourth seamer, while Ravindra Jadeja acts as the fifth bowler," Pujara stated.
"When you combine their contributions, the overall bowling performance is lacking. This is an area that requires careful consideration, as winning a Test match necessitates taking 20 wickets. Currently, the capacity to achieve that is insufficient; the supporting bowlers are not performing adequately, so we must address this issue promptly. The method to improve remains uncertain, but it is a significant concern," he continued.
In the initial Test in Perth, which India won, Washington Sundar was the sole spinner, with Ravindra Jadeja and Ashwin not included.
Ashwin subsequently joined the playing XI for the Adelaide Test. However, despite his impressive record of 537 Test wickets, he was omitted for the third match in Brisbane, allowing Ravindra Jadeja to participate.
India has chosen to field a different spinner in each of the three Tests. The Border-Gavaskar Trophy is currently tied at 1-1, with both India and Australia poised for a crucial contest in the Boxing Day Test, commencing on December 26.
