Lack of contributions from lower middle order a concern: Pujara

Sydney: Cheteshwar Pujara admitted that the lack of contributions from lower middle order is a concern and Indian team needs to address it, especially in overseas conditions.

In the third Test at the SCG, India were going well at one point having reached 195 for 4. However, Australia hit back with the second new ball and India lost six wickets for the addition of only 49 runs, getting bundled out for 244 to concede a 94-run lead on Day 3.

Pujara, who scored a patient half-century, admitted that the lower-order’s performance is a concern, but he also credited the Australian bowlers for turning it around.

“When you’re playing overseas, it’s never easy. You have to bat well as a lower middle order. Yes, you tend to lose wickets at times. Even when teams come to India, when they are not experienced, they tend to lose wickets at times. Yes, it is something that we will have to address. I’m sure there will be a chat about that,” Pujara was quoted as saying by Cricbuzz.

“Our major concern is we are losing wickets after we are six down. The lower middle order has to bat well and the guys have been putting in effort. If you look at the way Bumrah has been batting, he has been improving. The bowlers are also trying. Some times, it’s not easy. You just have to accept it when it’s not your day. The bowlers are also bowling well. When the margin for error is low for the batters, you have to give credit to the bowlers,” he added.

Pujara pointed out that India couldn’t manage a collective effort with the bat, which has put them on the back foot in the Sydney Test.

The Indian batsman also said the turning point of the innings was Rishabh Pant’s dismissal, which prevented them from reaching a total in excess of 300.

“As a batting unit, we will get through this. We have been batting well in patches but it is about a collective performance. As a batting unit, we are confident but credit to the way the Aussies bowled today,” he said.

“If you look at the way our innings was progressing, till Rishabh got out, we were in a comfortable position - at 180 for 4. We were going well. Things turned around when Rishabh and I got out. We didn’t score many after that. Losing Rishabh was a turnaround. If we had a decent partnership after that, we would have posted a decent score. Our target was to score 330-340. We lost (out) somewhere there (around the time of Pant’s dismissal),” he added. (UNI)