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India veteran batter Cheteshwar Pujara reckons that Rohit Sharma-led squad for Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 is currently lacking in bowling attack. He said that this will be the biggest concern for Men in Blue for the remaining last two Test matches of the five-Test match series.
Vice-captain Jasprit Bumrah has come as the lone warrior for India in bowling the legendary speedster has picked up 21 wickets in three Test matches and he is currently the highest wicket-taker in the ongoing high-voltage series.
The five-test match series is currently levelled at 1-1 after the third Test match at Gabba ended in a draw. Now everything to play for in the Tests in Melbourne and Sydney.
Pujara who was India's one of the consistent Test performers reckons that batting is a little better because the middle order and lower middle order are contributing with the bat but bowling will 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.
"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?"
Pujara felt that Nitish Reddy and Ravindra Jadeja are not able to do the job of being the side'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.
"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."
The upcoming fourth Test match between India and Australia is scheduled to start from December 26 which will take place at Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) in Melbourne.
The ongoing Test series between India and Australia is important for both teams to seal their spot in the World Test Championship (WTC) final which will take place next year in England.
