"Probably not the right call" - Cheteshwar Pujara questions crucial change in India's playing XI for 3rd BGT 2024-25 Test
Veteran batter Cheteshwar Pujara reckons India probably erred by picking left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja in their playing XI for the ongoing Test of the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy at The Gabba in Brisbane. Pujara opined that considering the number of left-handers in Australia's playing XI, the visitors should have gone in with an off-spinner - Ravichandran Ashwin or Washington Sundar.
India have played three different spinners in the three BGT 2024-25 Test matches. Sundar was preferred over Ashwin and Jadeja for the opening Test in Perth. India brought in Ashwin for the pink-ball Test in Adelaide but replaced him with Jadeja for the ongoing contest in Brisbane.
Jadeja has looked completely ineffective in Australia's first innings. In 16 overs, he has conceded 72 runs without picking up a wicket. During a discussion on ESPNcricinfo, Pujara raised questions over India's decision to bring in the left-arm spinner for The Gabba Test instead of picking an off-spinner:
"I know he has been chosen as a batter who can bowl a bit. But, in Australian conditions, when you know that the strong opposition batters are left-handers - Travis Head, Usman (Khawaja), and Alex Carey all are left-handers. So, you want your off-spinner to be there. Even if you look at the rough, it's mainly for the right-handers, so off-spinners will come into play eventually, even in the second innings.
"That's where I thought our thought process was not up to the mark. We could have gone with the off-spinner. It could have been Ashwin or Washington, but playing Jadeja was probably not the right call. He is one of the best players. He is a great batter and a great fielder, but probably to contain Aussies in those conditions, I thought it was a tough task for him," Pujara added.
While Jadeja failed to make an impact on Day 2 of the Brisbane Test, lead pacer Jasprit Bumrah starred with 5-72 from 25 overs. Mohammed Siraj and Nitish Kumar Reddy picked up one wicket each, while Akash Deep went wicketless.
India on the back foot in Brisbane Test
Despite Bumrah's heroics, Australia have the upper hand in the Brisbane Test. Resuming their first innings on 28-0, they went to stumps at 405-7. The hosts were 75-3 at one stage, but Travis Head (152) and Steve Smith (101) added 241 for the fourth wicket to frustrate India. At stumps, Alex Carey was unbeaten on 45 and Mitchell Starc on seven.