November 29, 2024: Cheteshwar Pujara’s backing of India’s bowling attack for the second Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy is rooted in the confidence the pacers, especially Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, and Harshit Rana, showed in the first Test in Perth.
His comments highlight the importance of sticking to a winning combination, despite the challenges that might arise in Adelaide’s conditions. Pujara seems to feel that India’s pace trio, complemented by Washington Sundar, can offer the right balance for the upcoming test match.
While Rana did struggle in the second innings in Perth, Pujara sees his role as critical, especially with the ability to bowl in tough conditions and hit the right areas. The emphasis on keeping the same four seamers, including Rana, and having Sundar as the spin option shows Pujara’s faith in a balanced attack that relies on seam and swing over traditional spin options.
The other key point from Pujara is Sundar’s ability with the bat. While his bowling might not have been stellar initially, Sundar’s lower-order batting strength is a big factor in his inclusion. This gives India the flexibility to rely on him both with the bat and as a part-time spinner, especially in case they need depth in the batting order should they face early wickets.
It seems that Pujara’s strategy is to maintain continuity, trusting the pacers and Sundar’s all-round skills to navigate the different challenges the Adelaide pitch will offer, rather than making changes based on a single underwhelming spell from Rana.
