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India's Test legend Cheteshwar Pujara suggested Rohit Sharma-led India not to tinker around with the bowling lineup for the upcoming pink ball Test against Australia which is scheduled to take place at Adelaide Oval in Adelaide from December 6 to 10. The legendary batter reckons that both Ashwin and Jadeja should warm the bench for the upcoming clash as well.
Jasprit Bumrah-led India featured with three seamers in the first Test match including Mohammed Siraj and debutant Harshit Rana was preferred over Akash Deep. India veteran spinners Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja were benched. Pujara said that Harshit was playing his first game in Australian conditions but still managed to pitch the ball up.
"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 when asked if India should retain the bowling attack for the pink-ball Adelaide Test against Australia.
"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.
Debutat Nitish Kumar Reddy and Washington Sundar were preferred for the all-rounders' roles in the team, keeping Ashwin and Jadeja at bay. Pujara feels the two provide the right balance to the team, and hence, should continue.
"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 explained.
Team India are currently leading 1-0 in the five-Test match series after registering a 295 run dominating win against the hosts. The ongoing series is important for Men in Blue to seal their berth for the World Test Championship (WTC) final which will take place next year in England.
