India batter Cheteshwar Pujara has given a massive suggestion to the Rohit Sharma-led side on how to tackle the threat of Mitchell Starc in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25. He mentioned that the fast bowler gets tired after his first spell and it’s easy to play him after that.
Australia National Cricket Team pacer Mitchell Starc has been posing a massive threat to India National Cricket Team batters in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25. The left-arm pacer has been the major reason behind the poor batting of the Rohit Sharma-led side in the series.
Mitchell Starc is Australia’s joint-highest wicket-taker in the BGT 2024-25
Starc has been very effective with the new ball, as he has moved the ball terrifically in both ways. The fast bowler bagged a six-wicket haul in the pink-ball Test in Adelaide and backed that up with three more at the Gabba, helping Australia stage a comeback in the series after loss in the first match.
Starc is Australia’s joint-highest wicket-taker this series, with 14 wickets at an average of 22.86. He, in particular, has troubled the top-order batters more, and with two more games remaining in the series, he will be important for his team.
We need to bat well in the first five overs and make him bowl the second and third spells because he gets tired – Cheteshwar Pujara on Mitchell Starc
With India struggling to get going against Starc, Cheteshwar Pujara has advised India batters to be cautious against the pacer in his first spell. He stressed that the pacer is ineffective in his second and third spells.
Cheteshwar Pujara also lavished rich praise on Mitchell Starc, saying that the fast bowler has improved a lot. He stressed that earlier, it was easy to score runs against the pacer but he is now very threatening. Speaking to Star Sports, he explained:
“He has taken most of his wickets in his first five overs, his first spell. We need to bat well in the first five overs and make him bowl the second and third spells because he gets tired. When Mitchell Starc was bowling to Bumrah and Akash Deep with the old ball, he wasn’t that effective. So, play the new ball properly,”
“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. If I talk about my personal experience, when he used to bowl in the last two series, we felt we could get runs. However, now it seems like when he comes to bowl, he will pick up wickets.”
He is looking more dangerous than Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood – Cheteshwar on Mitchell Starc
Cheteshwar Pujara, while lauding Mitchell Starc, said that the fast bowler has become a different bowler and is looking more dangerous than Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood. He explained:
“His accuracy has improved a lot. He is bowling very few loose deliveries. He is bowling at the stumps, hitting the good length spot consistently, and getting swing. He has become a different bowler. 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 concluded.
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