India vs Australia: ‘Understand the pace and back your strengths’ – Kapil Dev warns Indian bowlers not to “get carried away” on bouncy Australian pitches

India vs Australia: ‘Understand the pace and back your strengths’ – Kapil Dev warns Indian bowlers not to “get carried away” on bouncy Australian pitches

Indian Pace Bowlers with Virat Kohli

Kapil Dev

India‘s pace battery has improved leaps and bounds over the past few years. And they have propelled India to top of the Test rankings. Their ability to scalp 20 wickets on any surface has made them a force to reckon in the longest format. Even in Ishant Sharma‘s absence, India boasts of a lethal fast bowling line up. Experienced Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami lead the pack backed up by the likes of Umesh Yadav and rookie duo of Mohammed Siraj and Navdeep Saini.

It was the speedsters who played a huge role in India’s historic Test series win on their last visit to Australia. And the onus will again fall on their shoulders. Especially with captain Virat Kohli set to miss the final three Tests, it is the pacers who will have to step up their game.

They may get carried away with a little bit of bounce

Indian Pace Bowlers with Virat Kohli
Indian Pace Bowlers

Former India skipper Kapil Dev feels that the bowlers need to back their strengths. Kapil adds that the bounce on the Aussie pitches might tempt them to bowl short. But they need to fight the temptation and continue to focus on their strengths. The former pacer adds that the hosts understand the conditions better. So India will have to adapt to the fast surfaces at the earliest if they want to replicate their heroics from the 2018-19 tour.

“Our fast bowlers are not that used to bowling on Australian pitches. Sometimes they may get carried away when they see a little bit of bounce and start bowling short. It’s very important to understand their pace and back their strengths,” Kapil said during a virtual session hosted by the Indian Chamber of Commerce.

“We may have a very good pace bowling attack at this stage, but they (Australians) know the conditions better than our fast bowlers,” said the 61-year-old.

The series opener is a day-night affair in Adelaide. And the 1983 World Cup-winning captain feels the Aussie hold an edge over the visitors under lights. Australia has played as many as seven pink ball Tests while India has only one under their belt. The Kangaroos understand the conditions better. And Kapil feels that would definitely hurt the Men in Blue.

“Definitely Australia have the edge. They are playing in their backyard. If India were playing a pink ball Test in India, I would say 80 per cent our chances. But Australia have played so many (pink ball) Tests and they understand the conditions better under the floodlights.“

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