The second Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Adelaide has laid bare the challenges Indian cricket faces against a resurgent Australian side. After Australia, struggling at 191 for 5 with just an 11-run lead, was propelled to a commanding position thanks to Travis Head’s exceptional 140, extending their lead to 157, India’s response was marked by struggle. The Indian team, rattled, ended the day at 128 for 5, still trailing by 29 runs. Virat Kohli, coming in at a crucial juncture when India was at 42/2, managed only 11 runs before being dismissed by Scott Boland, caught by Alex Carey. This scenario has prompted Cheteshwar Pujara to question the Indian batting lineup’s approach, advocating for a more confident and adaptive strategy.
Chetehwar Pujara, known for his defensive prowess and patience, pointed out the tactical shifts needed. “The way they are batting, something has been discussed in the team meeting where the approach seems to be to play more positively. We batted cautiously against the new ball in Perth (in the second innings of the first Test). They are playing too many shots in the first 15-20 overs,” he said. This remark underscores a perceived lack of balance in India’s batting strategy, tilting too far towards aggression without due respect to the conditions.
The former Indian batsman further elaborated on the need for a smarter approach to batting. “Quite often you have to play shots to put pressure on the bowlers, but you have to somewhere or the other respect the conditions as well because the Australian bowlers know which channel to bowl,” Cheteshwar Pujara observed. His insights suggest that while aggression is key, the Indian batsmen must adapt to the nuances of the pitch and the bowlers’ tactics.
Cheteshwar Pujara also gave credit to the Australian bowlers for their strategic gameplay. “You have to praise the Australian bowlers. We were discussing yesterday that the Indian bowlers should bowl more at the stumps and that they can bowl fuller. The Australian bowlers learned from that. They bowled more on top of off and used the bouncers also in between,” he elaborated. The performance of Pat Cummins (2/33), Boland (2/39), and Starc, who took 6 wickets in the first innings and added 1/49 in the second, exemplifies this strategy.
With a clear message to his teammates, Cheteshwar Pujara emphasized the necessity of confidence in defense. “You have to show more confidence in your defense,” Cheteshwar Pujara to the Indian batters. He further critiqued the batting approach, “The bowling was excellent but the shot selection could have been better. You need to bat a little more cautiously. You have to show more confidence in your defense. The biggest point, according to me, was the lack of experience with the pink ball,” he said.
He highlighted the challenges posed by the pink ball in day-night Tests. “We don’t play too many day-night Tests. So we don’t have the experience there. The ball skids a little more, and the reaction time is less. All the batters who got out were somewhere or the other late on the ball,” Pujara observed. This lack of familiarity with the pink ball, combined with aggressive shot selection, has been detrimental to India’s cause.
With scores like KL Rahul (7), Yashasvi Jaiswal (24), Kohli (11), Rohit Sharma (6), Rishabh Pant (28*), and Nitish Reddy (15*), the Indian batting lineup has much to ponder. Pujara’s analysis serves as a call to action for a more nuanced approach to batting, blending aggression with respect for the conditions and a solid foundation in defense. As the match progresses, how India adapts to these critiques will be crucial in determining the outcome of this Test and potentially the series.
