SA vs IND 2021: Fast bowlers are our strength, says Cheteshwar Pujara

India’s veteran batter Cheteshwar Pujara has opined that fast bowlers are the team’s strength ahead of the three-match Test series against South Africa.

The Indian pace battery has taken giant strides in the recent past and the results have been palpable for the team.

The Indian fast bowlers have performed brilliantly in overseas conditions and they have been instrumental in the success of the team. Team India has savored success in foreign conditions and a lot of credit goes to the likes of Jasprit Bumrah, Ishant Sharma, Mohammed Siraj, and Mohammad Shami.

India has won two-Test series in tough Australian conditions in 2018-19 and 2020-21 tours and they have been consistent. Furthermore, India had taken a 2-1 lead in the four-Test matches against England.

Thus, Indian fast bowlers have shown the capability of taking all 20 wickets in tough overseas conditions. In fact, Indian bowlers had taken all the 20 scalps in three Test matches against South Africa in the 2017-18 tour.

“Our fast bowlers have been the difference between the sides overall when we have played abroad. If you look at the Australia and England series, we have done exceptionally well as a bowling unit.”

The veteran batter added: “Our fast bowlers are our strength (in South Africa) and I hope they can utilize the conditions and give us 20 wickets in each test match.”

Meanwhile, Bumrah and Shami have scalped 53 wickets each since 2019 while Ishant Sharma has taken 44 wickets. Mohammed Siraj has also made an impressive start to his Test career as he has bagged 33 wickets in 10 Test matches he has played thus far.

Pujara added that the team will try to stick to their game plan in the upcoming Test series against South Africa.

“We would not think too much about whether we have the upper hand or not. We will try and stick to our game-plan and our processes, and the things we need to do to be successful in South Africa.”

The Boxing Day Test match between South Africa and India will be played at Centurion.