"When he used to come to bowl in the last 2 series, we felt we could get runs" - Cheteshwar Pujara on Aussie bowler's threat in BGT 2024-25 4th Test
Cheteshwar Pujara expects Australian seamer Mitchell Starc to be a huge threat for India in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) 2024-25 fourth Test. The veteran India batter has noted that the left-arm seamer has improved significantly from the last two times he faced him in the away series against Australia.
The fourth match of the five-match series between India and Australia will be played in Melbourne from Thursday, December 26. With 14 scalps in the first three games, Starc is Australia's joint-highest wicket-taker, alongside Pat Cummins.
During a discussion on the Star Sports show 'Game Plan', Pujara was asked about the threat Starc would pose in the Boxing Day Test.
"He has been their best bowler thus far in this series. He has improved his bowling a lot in the last one to one-and-a-half years. He has a lot of ability. If I talk about my personal experience, when he used to come to bowl in the last two series, we felt we could get runs," he responded.
The star performer in India's last two away tours of Australia added that Starc's improved accuracy has made him a potent weapon.
"However, now it seems like when he will come to bowl, he will pick up wickets. His accuracy has improved a lot. He is bowling very few loose deliveries. He is bowling at the stumps. Every ball is hitting the good length spot. He is getting swing. He has become a different bowler," Pujara elaborated.
Starc's 14 wickets in the ongoing series have come at an impressive average of 22.85. While he picked up 13 scalps at an average of 34.53 in four Tests in the 2018-19 BGT, he accounted for 11 dismissals at an average of 40.72 in four matches in the 2020-21 edition of the series.
"Make him bowl the second and third spells because he gets tired" - Cheteshwar Pujara on how India can counter Mitchell Starc
![Yashasvi Jaiswal has been dismissed cheaply by Mitchell Starc in India's first innings in the first three Tests. [P/C: Getty]](https://statico.sportskeeda.com/editor/2024/12/24ea7-17348428792960-1920.jpg?w=500)
In the same discussion, Cheteshwar Pujara urged India to play out the new ball against Mitchell Starc.
"He is looking more dangerous than (Pat) Cummins and (Josh) Hazlewood. So we will have to manage his bowling, especially with the new ball. He has taken most of his wickets in his first five overs, his first spell. So we need to bat well in the first five overs. Make him bowl the second and third spells because he gets tired," he said.
The cricketer-turned-commentator added that the Aussie seamer wasn't effective when he bowled to Jasprit Bumrah and Akash Deep with the old ball.
"The way we have batted thus far, our top order has never played him in his third or fourth spell. The lower-middle order or the tailenders have played him. We saw when Mitchell Starc was bowling when Bumrah and Akash Deep were batting, he wasn't that effective. So play the new ball properly," Pujara observed.
Bumrah and Deep's 47-run last-wicket partnership helped India save the follow-on in the third Test in Brisbane. Starc couldn't dismiss either player and conceded 10 runs in the three overs he bowled against the duo.