Cheteshwar Pujara Places Faith On Bowlers To Keep Steve Smith And David Warner Silent

India will have their task cut out ahead of the four-match Test series against Australia on the latter’s home turf. India will begin their defence of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, which they retained last time down under based on Chetehswar Pujara’s heroics. Despite a strengthened batting line-up, Cheteshwar Pujara expects the tourists’ bowlers to perform their job to great effect.

India clinched their first-ever Test series in Australia in 2018-19, beating the hosts by 2-1 in the four-match rubber. But it was a side shorn of Steve Smith and David Warner, two of Australia’s batting titans that have done the bulk of their run-scoring in the last three years or so. But all two are part of the forthcoming leg along with Marnus Labushcagne, who is also a much-improved batsman.

Cheteshwar Pujara understands that Steve Smith, David Warner, and Marnus Labuschagne are top-notch players; however, their bowling line-up would not be very different from the one in 2018-19. Cheteshwar Pujara underlined that India’s bowlers have enjoyed success in Australia and if executed their plans well against the trio, they can rule over them. Hence, if everything comes together for them, the right-handed batsman thinks India could be unstoppable.

“No doubt Smith, Warner and Marnus Labuschagne are great players. But the good part about our current crop of bowlers is that most of them play in the same series and our bowling unit will also not be very different to what it was in 2018-19. For India’s fast bowlers, it’s like a “been there, done that” situation. They know how to be successful in Australia as they have enjoyed success there in the past. They have their game-plans in place and if we can execute them well, they are capable of getting Smith, Warner and Labuschagne out quickly. If we can do what we have done in the past, I am sure we have every chance of winning the series again,” Pujara said as quoted by Sports.NDTV.

“In the end, you need 20 wickets to win a Test” : Cheteshwar Pujara

The Saurashtra batsman admitted his performance was a significant difference last time; however, one cannot win matches by themselves and that it has to be a team effort. Cheteshwar Pujara commended the bowling unit and stated that picking 20 wickets is essential to win Tests. The 32-year old credited the entire team to the last time’s success down under and that when the Indian team succeeds, it is always a moment of pride.

“You can’t win matches on your own. Yes, you can perform exceptionally well but you need support from other players to win. Even the bowling unit was remarkable during the last series. n the end, you need 20 wickets to win a Test and wasn’t just my performance, even other batters supported at some stage or the other. It was the team’s success. When the Indian team succeeds, it is always a moment of pride,” he added.

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