Cheteshwar Pujara, one of India's most dependable batsmen, shared his thoughts on India’s disappointing batting performance on the opening day of the ongoing pink-ball Test against Australia at the Adelaide Oval. After winning the toss and opting to bat first, India found themselves in trouble right from the start, with Yashasvi Jaiswal being dismissed for a first-ball duck. This early setback was a big blow to India's hopes of building a solid innings, but the situation seemed to improve briefly as Shubman Gill and KL Rahul forged a 69-run stand. However, this partnership was short-lived as India’s batting lineup crumbled in quick succession.
From a promising 69 for 2, India’s innings deteriorated rapidly, and they were bowled out for just 180 runs. Australia ended the day trailing by 94 runs and looked solid at 86 for 1 with the nightwatchman, Usman Khawaja, at the crease. Reflecting on the day’s play, Pujara admitted that India had fallen short of the target they should have set on this pitch, stating that they were 70 to 80 runs behind where they should have been. He pointed out that India could have easily scored 250 to 275 runs if they had batted with more discipline and resilience.
"I think we could have batted a lot better. It was a pitch where we should have got 250 to 275. So we are 70-80 runs behind," Pujara said. He was quick to acknowledge the excellent performance of the Australian bowlers, crediting them for their precise lengths and disciplined approach. "Credit goes to the Aussie bowlers because the way they bowled. They pitched the ball up. Their lengths were much better than our bowlers," Pujara added. His comments shed light on how Australia’s bowlers managed to consistently test the Indian batters by pitching the ball in the right areas, unlike India’s bowlers who struggled to do the same.
Pujara explained that while the Indian bowlers tried to replicate the successful lengths of the Australian attack, they failed to execute the plans effectively. He noted that the Australian bowlers were consistently able to find the right line and length, which made the job difficult for India's batters. "I do understand that our bowlers did try to hit the same length, which wasn’t the ideal length. But if you look at the Aussie bowlers’ length, initially they mixed it up when there wasn’t help and they started pitching up," Pujara said, pointing out the differences in approach between the two sides.
The Australian bowlers were also very effective with their back-of-the-length deliveries, using the line just over the fourth stump to put pressure on India’s top and middle order. This line, combined with a subtle variation in length, caused problems for India’s batsmen, including KL Rahul and Virat Kohli, both of whom were dismissed to similar deliveries. Pujara reflected on how India’s inability to handle these deliveries led to the downfall of their middle order. "They went to back-of-length. They started bowling between 6 to 8 meters and that’s where we lost a couple of wickets in the middle order. KL Rahul and Virat, both of them got out to back-of-the-length deliveries. And the line was still just over the 4th stump, which was an ideal line on this pitch," he said.
While analyzing the state of the game, Pujara acknowledged that India could have capitalized on the partnerships they built, but they failed to consolidate and were undone by a series of soft dismissals. "I know we could have batted a lot better on this pitch, where we had partnerships, but after one partnership, we kept on losing wickets," he said. The inability to sustain partnerships was a key factor in India’s poor performance on Day 1. Pujara’s admission of this failure underscores how fragile India’s batting has become under pressure, especially when trying to build big innings.
India’s batting woes were further compounded by a rare failure from captain Rohit Sharma, who could not make an impact with the bat, a key concern for the team as they need their senior players to step up in crucial moments. Rohit’s failure to score added to the mounting pressure on the rest of the batting line-up, with the responsibility of rebuilding the innings falling on the shoulders of the middle-order players.
As the match progresses, Pujara’s comments highlight the crucial areas India needs to improve on in their batting approach. With the Indian bowlers now tasked with trying to restrict Australia’s total, it will be interesting to see how they respond to the challenge and whether they can provide their batsmen with a chance to get back into the game. India’s batting line-up will need to regroup and adopt a more disciplined approach in their second innings, ensuring they don’t repeat the mistakes made on Day 1. The coming days will be pivotal in determining whether India can turn the tide and make a comeback against Australia in this high-stakes pink-ball Test.
