Former India cricketer Cheteshwar Pujara has expressed concerns about India’s bowling setup in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy, a challenge further intensified by the unexpected retirement of veteran spinner Ravichandran Ashwin. Pujara highlighted that the team now faces a dilemma in fielding a balanced bowling attack, especially in the spin department, which has been significantly impacted by Ashwin’s absence.
Ashwin’s sudden retirement, announced after India’s hard-fought draw in the Brisbane Test, shocked the cricket fraternity. The experienced spinner’s decision to leave the squad and return home to Chennai the following day has left India with limited options. Pujara, in an interview with Star Sports, emphasised how Ashwin’s exit complicates India’s bowling strategy, making it difficult for the team to tweak their lineup effectively.
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“My biggest question and the reason for a little bit of concern is that the Indian bowling is looking a little weak. Batting is a little better, like the top five didn’t do well, but the middle order and lower middle order, Ravindra Jadeja, Nitesh, and even tail enders, Bumrah and Akashdeep contributed with the bat. 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? Ashwin has taken retirement, so two spinners, I don’t think they will play in Melbourne,” Pujara said.
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. 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,” Pujara added.
The current spin choices, all-rounders Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar, are now under scrutiny as India navigates crucial matches in the series. Additionally, players like Nitish Kumar Reddy, who has been a part-time fifth bowler, and Jadeja are now expected to shoulder greater responsibility.
Many fans and former cricketers alike have been consistently highlighting how India’s pace ace Jasprit Bumrah has been majorly carrying the bowling responsibility without any sufficient support from the rest of the bowling unit, which only highlights the problem further.
India’s bowling combinations have fluctuated throughout the series. In the Perth Test, the team deployed Washington Sundar as their primary spinner alongside pacers Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, and Harshit Rana, with Reddy providing part-time overs. In Adelaide, Ashwin replaced Sundar but struggled, picking up only one wicket in India’s loss. The Brisbane Test saw another shuffle, with Jadeja replacing Ashwin and Akash Deep coming in for Harshit Rana. While Jadeja and Akash Deep didn’t excel with the ball, their batting contributions played a crucial role in securing a draw.
As India approaches the Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, known for its seam-friendly conditions, captain Rohit Sharma faces a challenging decision. Should he stick with the in-form players like Nitish Reddy, Jadeja, and Akash Deep, or experiment with a new combination to strengthen the bowling attack? The outcome of this decision could prove pivotal in India’s quest to gain an upper hand in the series and secure a spot in the World Test Championship Final.
