Ravi Shastri raised concerns about the effectiveness of India's bowling unit in the ongoing Gabba Test after Jasprit Bumrah’s exceptional performance on Day 2, Sunday, December 15. Bumrah was the standout bowler for India, claiming 5 wickets for 72 runs from 25 overs, but the rest of the attack struggled to make an impact as Australia’s Travis Head and Steve Smith both scored centuries, helping the hosts post a solid total of 405 for 7 at stumps.
Despite contributions from Nitish Reddy and Mohammed Siraj, who each claimed a wicket, the rest of the bowlers were unable to stem the flow of runs, allowing Head and Smith to capitalize on the Indian bowlers' lack of consistency. Shastri, speaking on SEN Radio, questioned whether the rest of the Indian bowlers could execute their plans with the same precision as Bumrah.
"Bumrah has done most things right, but when you look at the others, you have to ask, ‘Can they execute?’" Shastri remarked. "They were giving away runs on both sides of the wicket, which made things very difficult."
Shastri suggested that the Indian bowlers needed to focus on keeping a consistent line and length, particularly when bowling to the offside. "They have to think about how to bowl on one side of the wicket," he said. "If Head has to score on the offside, they must maintain a consistent line. If he wants to go on the onside, then the bowler should make him take a chance."
The former coach emphasized the importance of executing plans effectively, stating that when a batsman is able to cut and pull for boundaries, it puts pressure on both the bowler and the captain. “When you have someone cutting you for four and pulling you for four, it becomes very hard for the captain. Then, when you pitch up, they drive you for four as well,” Shastri explained.
Shastri also urged India’s bowlers to simplify their approach. While Bumrah has been in remarkable form, with 17 wickets to his name in the series, the next best bowler is Siraj, who has claimed 10 wickets. However, despite these individual performances, Shastri believes that the bowlers need to come together and deliver in a more cohesive manner as a unit, particularly in the face of formidable batting from the Australian top order.
India’s bowling struggles on Day 2 have raised questions about their ability to match the precision and consistency demonstrated by Bumrah. As the series progresses, the team will need to find a way to replicate his performance across the entire attack, if they are to challenge Australia effectively and put pressure on the hosts' batting lineup.
