"Bohot hi kharab": Cheteshwar Pujara’s verdict on Jasprit Bumrah-led bowling unit’s performance vs Travis Head

Australia batter Travis Head's great form against India continued as he scored yet another hundred during the third Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy at Gabba, Brisbane. Head scored a counter-attacking 152 off 160 balls which put Australia in command.

But Cheteshwar Pujara wasn't pleased with India's bowling performance on the second day of the Gabba Test. Pujara slammed the Indian bowlers for their strategy against Head and reckoned that they played into the batter's hands by bowling to their strengths.

Pujara also revealed a plan that India could have used against Head to stop his scoring areas. But he feels that the runs were too easily available for the batter and he kept batting at a brilliant strike rate.

Also read: "Get Better...": Morne Morkel blasts Jasprit Bumrah-led bowling unit for struggles against Travis Head

Cheteshwar Pujara slams India's strategy against Travis Head

Cheteshwar Pujara is on the list of commentators for the ongoing Test series between Australia and India. During a segment on Star Sports, he explained how India bowled into Travis Head's strengths which allowed him to score runs easily.

Pujara claimed that India didn't have particular plans for Head despite the latter having troubled them a lot in recent times. He feels that India bowled too many short-pitched balls instead of limiting his scoring areas outside off stump.

"The way India has bowled today, especially to Travis Head, you know that he scored runs in the first and second match, there was no change in plans while bowling to him. Short balls were bowled a bit too much but his scoring outside off stump has to be stopped. But they kept on bowling on fourth and fifth stump," Pujara reckoned.

🗣 @cheteshwar1 on India's need to revise strategies to restrict Travis Head and Australia's batting depth in the next innings 📝#AUSvINDOnStar 👉 3rd Test, Day 3 | 16th DEC, MON, 5:15 AM on Star Sports! #ToughestRivalry #BorderGavaskarTrophy pic.twitter.com/P9qUCknwnl

— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) December 15, 2024

Cheteshwar Pujara reveals how to bowl to Travis Head

While speaking on the strategy to bowl to a batter like Travis Head, Pujara explained how India should have bowled to him with a proper field placement. He claimed that the batter was allowed to score runs freely as his strike rate didn't drop at all.

"I feel that India should have bowled a straight line on the stumps with a midwicket in place. Four fielders should have been there on the on-side while five should have been on the off-side. But that wasn't visible anywhere today. That should have been the actual plan," Pujara elaborated.

"Very poor (Bohot hi kharab). He was allowed to score runs way too easily and he batted with the same strike rate that he often bats. He didn't have to do much hard work as runs were available easily. According to me, that should have been changed," he added.

Travis Head shines for Australia again

Travis Head totally changed the game in Australia's favor as he played a cracking knock which dismantled India's plans. He looked in great touch against all the Indian bowlers and constantly troubled them throughout the innings.

Head came in to bat when Australia were reeling at 75-3 after Marnus Labuschagne was dismissed. He stitched a partnership of 241 runs with Steve Smith and put Australia ahead in the game.

Head smashed 18 fours during his knock. He hardly looked troubled during this scintillating knock. He was finally dismissed by Jasprit Bumrah after a fine knock. Australia finished at 405-7 at Stumps on Day 2.