Cheteshwar Pujara speaks to the media ahead of the 1st Test
India's Test specialist Cheteshwar Pujara has credited the Indian Premier League for producing some 'good' bowlers which compliments the Indian team during overseas tours. As India gear up for the Test series against Australia, Pujara feels that the Indian team have backup bowlers even if someone gets injured.
Speaking ahead of their first Test of the upcoming four-match series against Australia, the 30-year-old batsman said that injury to their pacers is not a big concern for the team as they have now got the sufficient bench strength.
"In the last few years, we have produced some quality fast bowlers. Even when it comes to the bench strength, if a couple of our fast bowlers are injured, we still have some backup. This is probably one of the best fast bowling attacks we have in many years," Pujara said in a media interaction
"I am not saying that we didn't have a good bowling attack in the past. I don't know the reason but it could be IPL, which helped to produce good fast bowlers," he added.
The Indian cricket team are going in with an 18-member strong team, excluding all-rounder Hardik Pandya, who is recovering from a back injury which he suffered in August during the Asia Cup.
India have Mohammed Shami, Ishant Sharma, Umesh Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah and Bhuvneshwar Kumar in their attacking unit. Only three or four will make the cut, but Pujara feels that there are enough backups to deliver when a player is injured or tired.
Pujara hoped that the team would be able to put up a good show in the Test Series as this is a "good opportunity" for India to perform well on the overseas pitches.
India are slated to play their first Test of the four-match series against Australia from December 6 at the Adelaide Oval.
India's Test Squad: Virat Kohli(c), Murali Vijay, Lokesh Rahul, Prithvi Shaw, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, Hanuma Vihari, Rohit Sharma, Rishabh Pant, Parthiv Patel, Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Ishant Sharma, Umesh Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Bhuvneshwar Kumar
(With ANI Inputs)
