Senior Indian batsman Cheteshwar Pujara pinpointed the reasons why India were not able to put up a bigger score in their first innings in the SCG Test. In reply to Australia’s 338, India were bowled out for 244 giving the opposition a handy lead to 94. India lost their last five wickets for just 21 runs as they faced a sort of a mini-collapse in front of a quality Australian bowling attack.
Speaking at the virtual press conference after the third day’s play, Cheteshwar Pujara started by speaking about his innings in particular. It was one of his slowest fifties in Test cricket. He was dismissed on 50 by a beauty of a delivery from Pat Cummins, who now has dismissed him four times in Test cricket.
“I was batting well and got a good ball. I just have to accept it. I couldn’t have done anything better than what I was doing. I feel I just have to bat the way, I know,” said Pujara.
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He further pointed out the lack of contributions from India’s lower-order which is another of the team’s struggles in the Test series. Three of their lower-order batsman were dismissed via run-outs which was the highlight of the waning Indian batting innings.
Lower-Order Has To Bat Well: Cheteshwar Pujara
“Our major concern is we are losing wickets after we are six down. The lower middle order has to bat well and the guys have been putting in effort. If you look at the way Bumrah has been batting, he has been improving. The bowlers are also trying. Some times, it’s not easy. You just have to accept it when it’s not your day. The bowlers are also bowling well. When the margin for error is low for the batters, you have to give credit to the bowlers,” said Pujara.
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Cheteshwar Pujara concluded by saying that lack of partnerships as a whole was the biggest reason why India failed to put up a big total. Barring Shubman Gill and Pujara none of the Indian batsmen scored above fifty, which is a sign of concern for the Indian team.
“As a batting unit, we will get through this. We have been batting well in patches but it is about a collective performance. As a batting unit, we are confident but credit to the way the Aussies bowled today” Cheteshwar Pujara concluded saying.