Middle-order batsman Cheteshwar Pujara praises Team India’s bowling attack is strong enough to compete in the 3-match Test series versus South Africa. Red-ball competitions are set to begin on 26th December at Centurion’s SuperSport Park.
Since last year, India have won Tests in England and Australia with pacers hitting beyond their eights. Pujara, a key component of India’s Test team, stated that the Indian pacers have the guns and expertise to grab 20 wickets of the opposition.
We need to do to be successful in South Africa: Pujara
“Our fast bowlers have been the difference between the sides overall when we have played abroad. If you look at the Australia and England series, we have done exceptionally well as a bowling unit,” Pujara was quoted as saying to the BCCI.
“Our fast bowlers are our strength (in South Africa) and I hope they can utilize the conditions and give us 20 wickets in each test match,” he stated.
“We would not think too much about whether we have the upper hand or not. We will try and stick to our game-plan and our processes, and the things we need to do to be successful in South Africa,” Pujara added.
India has named 6 pace bowlers for the Test series versus South Africa: Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, Shardul Thakur, Ishant Sharma, Mohammed Siraj, and Umesh Yadav. Shami and Bumrah did not play in India’s two home Tests versus New Zealand.
In 2018, India lost a three-match overseas Test series versus South Africa. The series was conceded when Virat Kohli and team lost the first 2 games. Eventually, the tourists secured some pride by winning the 3rd Test at the Wanderers in Johannesburg by 63 runs.
Shami, alongside Vernon Philander and Kagiso Rabada, had the most wickets in the series. Bumrah also took 14 wickets, including one five-wicket haul.
The forthcoming Test series will be held at Cape Town and Johannesburg. Following the Test matches, India will play 3 One-Day Internationals (ODIs).
