‘Because the three seamers are…’: Cheteshwar Pujara reveals reason behind India’s weakness before Boxing Day Test

Seasoned Indian batter Cheteshwar Pujara believes that Indian squad for the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 is lacking from the bowling side. He has stated that this lack in bowling power is going to be the biggest concern for the Rohit Sharma-led side for the remaining two Tests of the five-match Test series.

Vice-captain Jasprit Bumrah is the lone warrior for India in the bowling department. The legendary pacer has bagged 21 wickets in three Tests, and is currently the highest wicket-taker in the ongoing series.

Pujara, who used to be India’s one of the most consistent Test performers, believes that batting is a little better because the middle order and lower-middle order are contributing with the bat, but the bowling is going to be the main weakness in the Boxing-Day Test.

“My biggest question and the reason for a little bit of concern is that the Indian bowling is looking a little weak,” Pujara told Star Sports.

“Batting is a little better, like the top five didn’t do well, but the middle order and lower middle order, Ravindra Jadeja, Nitish (Reddy), and even tailenders, Bumrah and Akash Deep contributed with the bat,” he added.

“Now, there is a weakness 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?” he asked.

Pujara also said that since Ashwin has taken retirement, the team will not play well in Melbourne. He also added that the seamers in the team are good, but Nitish Reddy and Ravindra Jadeja are not the right players who will be able to do the work of being the team’s fourth and fifth bowlers.

“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, Nitesh Kumar is the fourth seamer and Ravindra Jadeja is the fifth bowler. If you add both of them together, the bowling is not that good,” he said.

“We will have to think about that, because if you want to win a Test match, then 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, 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 concluded.

The five-match Test series is currently levelled 1-1 due to the third match at the Gabba ending up in a draw., and the upcoming fourth Test match between India and Australia is set to begin December 26, at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). This ongoing Test series is also important for both the teams as the outcome of this five-match Test series will secure their spot in the World Test Championship (WTC) finals, set to be held in England in 2025.

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