While the Indian team will have to make a few changes in the batting order for the 2nd IND vs AUS Test in Adelaide, starting December 6, batter Cheteshwar Pujara feels that no tinkering should be done with the bowling unit. Under Jasprit Bumrah, the team had handed a 295-run thrashing to Australia in Perth, where the bowlers were the stars of the show.
R Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja Still Out, Washington Sundar IN
Pujara made it clear, that there is no space for R Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja in the team still. As for batting, Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill are certain to come in, while Devdutt Padikkal and Dhruv Jurel are certain to be omitted.
“There’s no question about it. This bowling attack has given us success. (Jasprit) Bumrah looked really good, (Mohammed) Siraj was very good and then it was supported by Harshit (Rana). He bowled really well. You have to accept. He was playing his first game still he ended up pitching the ball up,” Pujara told ESPNcricinfo.
“In Australia, it’s very easy to get carried away and sometimes when you look at the pace of the pitch, it offers bit more extra bounce but he (Rana) was still looking to hit the right spot, good length, try and hit the top of off and he has that ability. So I think we should carry on with the same bowling attack,” he added.
No Changes in Bowling Unit for IND vs AUS 2nd Test
Meanwhile, the veteran batter had no hesitation in going with Washington Sundar and Nitish Kumar Reddy as the two all-rounders, who did the job for the team.
“And Nitish Kumar (Reddy). He also had a bit of bowl. So, I felt that those four bowlers, four seamers are proper options, and along with that Washington Sundar. I think he didn’t look really good when he started his bowling, but eventually, he got a couple of wickets. He varied his pace.
“So Washi should be our spinner because he can bat well. The reason he was chosen in this squad because he can bat and that will be the main or important part in the second Test match. That in case if we lose a few wickets early, if lower middle-order needs to contribute, Washington can do that job,” he added.
