As Jasprit Bumrah’s chances of playing in the third Test firm, Channel 7 commentator Ricky Ponting has declared India cannot win without him.
After battling a minor groin injury in Adelaide, Bumrah completed a full warm up with his Indian teammates on the field Thursday before bowling in their main session.
WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Ricky Ponting’s thoughts on the third Test.
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The tourists’ strike weapon got through around 30 minutes of bowling in the nets, his first spell since the end of the Adelaide Test on Sunday.
The 31-year-old has been India’s best bowler by far this summer, with his performances in Perth the best of any touring quick in Australia in decades.
He has taken 12 wickets at 11.25 for the series. He rocked Australia in the first Test in Perth on the way to taking eight wickets (5-30 and 3-42) in India’s 295-run win. He also claimed 4-61 in the first innings of Australia’s 10-wicket win in Adelaide.
“Bumrah’s that big for India, I don’t think they can win without him,” Ponting told 7NEWS.
“He was so important to them in Perth and obviously he started beautifully in Adelaide. For India’s sake, they will hope he is right. For Australia’s sake, they would love to see an Indian side without Bumrah in it.”
Ponting also said India would be embarrassed by last week’s 10-wicket loss in Adelaide.
“They’re a high performing team and a proud cricketing nation. They’ll be embarrassed by what happened last week. They’ve got to find a way to bounce back,” he said.
“I think India definitely has their backs to the wall, but when they’ve done that in the past they’ve generally found a way to come out and play good cricket.”
Meanwhile, allrounder Mitch Marsh had the perfect response when told he is the only Aussie of the top seven who is yet to be dismissed by Bumrah.
“He’s coming,” Marsh joked when asked about the statistic.
The 33-year-old suggested there was no set game plan for the team to just see out Bumrah and take on the rest of the Indian attack, which includes a suite of world-class bowlers.
“Everyone has their own plans and we all bat differently so (it’s about) the situation in the game,” Marsh said.
“Sometimes you have to get through a spell and sometimes it is time to attack. We have guys in our batting lineup who just play differently. Getting through your own way and moving the game forward is really important when you are facing one of the best attacks in the world.”
His aggressive approach has served him well against elite bowlers from around the world and his methodology against the India superstar will be no different when the Test at the Gabba begins on Saturday.
“I think when you have the best bowler in the world and you are just trying to see him off he is going to have one with your name on it. I think it is about applying pressure with your own method and taking the challenge on,” Marsh said of Bumrah.
“We know right now he’s probably the best bowler in the world. It’s just about getting up for that challenge. It’s a big series. You want to take the best in the world on. That is certainly my mentality. (I) look forward to facing him again.”
– With AAP
