Concerns Over Indian Bowling Ahead of Boxing Day Test Against Australia
As the highly anticipated Boxing Day Test against Australia approaches, veteran Indian batsman Cheteshwar Pujara has voiced his apprehensions regarding the strength of the visiting team’s bowling attack. He questions whether they possess the capability to secure all 20 wickets necessary for a victory in a Test match.
Assessing India’s Bowling Line-Up
Pujara’s concerns stem from the current performance metrics of India’s bowlers. While Jasprit Bumrah has been impressive with 21 wickets and Mohammed Siraj has contributed 13, other members of the bowling squad have struggled to make an impact. Newcomers Harshit Rana, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Akash Deep have collectively taken only 10 wickets during their tour in Australia.
“My primary concern is that our bowling unit seems somewhat fragile,” Pujara remarked. “While our batting lineup shows promise—especially with contributions from our middle order and lower order players like Ravindra Jadeja and even tail-enders like Bumrah—the bowling department raises questions about its effectiveness.”
Strategizing Team Composition
Pujara further elaborated on team dynamics, highlighting that dropping key players such as Nitish or Jadeja isn’t feasible given their importance to both batting and fielding strategies. With Ashwin’s retirement leaving a gap in spin options, he speculated on how India might bolster its pace attack for optimal performance at Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG).
“The trio of seamers we have are competent; however, when it comes to supporting roles—like those filled by Nitesh Kumar as fourth seamer or Jadeja as fifth bowler—the overall strength appears lacking,” he noted.
The Need for Wicket-Taking Ability
He emphasized that winning a Test match hinges on taking all 20 wickets—a feat that currently seems challenging given their present form. “We need to address this issue promptly; otherwise, it could hinder our chances significantly,” Pujara stated during an interview with Star Sports.
On Australia’s side, left-arm pacer Mitchell Starc stands out with his remarkable tally of 14 wickets throughout this series. Pujara acknowledged Starc’s evolution into one of Australia’s most formidable bowlers due to his enhanced precision and reduced number of loose deliveries.
“Starc has truly excelled in this series,” said Pujara. “His growth over the past year or so is evident; he’s become more consistent than ever before.”
Mitchell Starc: A Rising Threat
Reflecting on his previous encounters with Starc during earlier series in 2018 and 2021, Pujara noted how he felt more confident facing him back then compared to now: “In past matches against him, I believed I could score runs easily; however now it feels like every delivery poses a threat.”
He attributes this shift primarily to improvements in Starc’s line length and accuracy—qualities crucial for success at high levels of competition. “Every ball is landing perfectly within good length areas,” he added while praising Starc’s ability to swing the ball effectively.
Pujara also stressed that surviving through Starc’s initial spell will be critical for Indian batters if they hope to capitalize later in their innings.
Tactics Against Australia’s Pace Attack
“Starc appears more menacing than Cummins or Hazlewood right now,” warned Pujara about managing Australian bowlers effectively from ball one. He advised focusing efforts particularly during those first five overs when star bowlers tend to claim most dismissals.
To mitigate risks posed by fresh bowlers early on while maximizing scoring opportunities later into innings would require strategic adjustments from India’s top-order batsmen who haven’t faced these conditions extensively before.
“Historically speaking,” concluded Pujara thoughtfully “it’s often been lower-order batsmen who’ve had encounters against them rather than top-tier players.”
With these insights shared ahead of what promises an exciting contest between two cricketing giants at MCG this Thursday—fans eagerly await how both teams will adapt under pressure!
