The third Test of the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) series ended in a draw and has resulted in the series presently standing in a draw at 1-1 with India buoyant about their chances going into the Boxing Day Test to be played at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground from December 26. Pujara said that bowling weakness must be sorted out with this Indian team if they are to take 20 wickets, according to Star Sports. Bumrah is the only shining pace bowler for India in the ongoing BGT series. Currently, Bumrah stands as the highest wicket-taker in the series, with 21 wickets at an impressive average of 10.90. He also has 2 fifers and one four-wicket haul to his name in this series after the completion of the first three matches.
Speaking exclusively to Star Sports, Pujara said that the Indian bowling attack looks a bit weak because they have to take 20 wickets themselves during the ongoing BGT series.
“Batting is a little better, as the top five did not get good scores, but they have the middle order and lower middle order, which are Ravindra Jadeja, Nitesh, and even tail enders, Bumrah and Akash Deep, contributed with the bat,” pointed out Pujara in a statement released to Star Sports.
He added that the three seamers are very good but not getting enough support from the other two bowlers.
“Now the weakness is in the bowling, so what will you feed, the team? That is the biggest question because you can’t drop Nitish, you can’t drop Jadeja, so what will be the team combination? Ashwin has taken retirement, so two spinners, I don’t think they will play in Melbourne. So, how will you strengthen the bowling? Because the three seamers are very good but their supporting role, fourth and fifth seamer, Nitish Kumar is the fourth seamer and Ravindra Jadeja is the fifth bowler,” he added.
He reiterated that winning a match requires visiting teams to take 20 wickets in the match.
“If you add both of them together, the bowling is not that good. We will have to think about that because, if you win a Test match, you have to take 20 wickets, and the ability to take 20 wickets is not that good; the supporting role of the other bowlers is not good, and so we will have to improve that as soon as possible, and how that will be, I don’t know, but that is a big question,” he further added.
