IND vs AUS: Why Jasprit Bumrah & Pacers Are Real Winners As Team India Trump Australia in Perth | Opinion

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IND vs AUS: Bowlers win matches is an old adage about Test cricket. It is turning out to be quite true as the Indian team bounced back from a disappointing series loss to New Zealand at home.

The way India turned things around in the opening Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia in Perth was a masterclass in how bowlers can shift the momentum of a series.

Bowlers Star In Another Moment of Glory for Team India

After losing to New Zealand, India was under pressure, and the conditions in Australia were vastly different — fast, bouncy pitches that favoured pacers. What made the turnaround possible was the performance of the Indian bowlers, particularly their pacers.

In Perth, India’s fast bowling attack, led by the irrepressible Jasprit Bumrah, Mohd Siraj, and Harshit Rana, took full advantage of the conditions. They consistently tested Australia’s top order with pace, swing, and accuracy. Bumrah, with his sharp pace and unorthodox angles, was particularly effective, while Siraj and Rana backed him up with relentless pressure.

India’s bowlers took 20 wickets in the match, which is the basic requirement to win a Test. Without a potent bowling attack, even the best batting line-up struggles to dominate. India’s bowlers were relentless in their pursuit of wickets, which is critical when playing against top-quality teams like Australia.

Not only did they bowl Australia out in both innings, but they also exploited the seam and bounce in the conditions, with both fast bowlers and spinners playing their roles when needed.

Pacers Lead The Show After Spinners Failed Terribly At Home Vs NZ

This was a stark contrast to the New Zealand series, where India’s spinners struggled to make inroads on pitches that didn’t offer much assistance. In Australia, the pacers were in their element, and the team benefitted from a combination of experienced and new faces stepping up. The victory in Perth was a reminder that with the right bowling attack, India could compete and succeed even in conditions where they were seen as underdogs.

The turnaround, then, was not just about one individual performance but the collective effort of a potent bowling attack that made it possible for India to challenge Australia in their own backyard and come out on top. It demonstrated that regardless of previous results, in Test cricket, having a solid bowling unit is often the difference between winning and losing.

What Changed For Team India In A Space of 20 days?

A key difference between the performances of the Indian spinners against New Zealand and their pacers against Australia is turning out to be different. In the New Zealand series, R. Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja certainly didn’t meet expectations, especially given their reputation as match-winners in subcontinental conditions. The fact that they couldn’t dismiss New Zealand twice, despite having favourable conditions in the past, was a stark contrast to their usual impact.

On the other hand, in Australia, the Indian pacers proved to be the driving force. Bumrah and company were able to assert dominance, consistently taking wickets and leading India’s bowling attack. The pacers’ ability to adapt to conditions and make key breakthroughs often turned the tide in India’s favour.

This means also that both Ashwin and Jadeja, who weren’t playing the Perth Test at the cost of only the spinner’s slot going to Washington Sunder, will have to up the ante when they play a Test series at home next time!