Former India off-spinner Pragyan Ojha disagreed with Virat Kohli and the team management’s decision to send fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah as the nightwatchman in the final stages of Day 2 of the first Test against Australia in Adelaide.
Bumrah walked in after the fall of Prithvi Shaw’s wicket and played out 11 deliveries before the close of play as India reached 9 for 1 at stumps with a lead of 62 runs over the hosts.
Indian openers had to negotiate a tricky 6-over period after Australia got bowled out for 191 in the final session but they got off to a poor start once again as Shaw got castled by Pat Cummins for 4 in the 4th over.
Bumrah came in and managed to hold on to his wicket and protect Mayank Agarwal at the other end. But with 3 days of this match and 3 more Test matches in the series to go, Ojha feels the move could have backfired on India if he had gotten injured while batting.
“Bumrah with the ball is a bigger asset than going out there and batting. I would have not sent him (as the nightwatchman). Maybe I would have sent somebody else but not Bumrah because he is your number one bowler.
“I have spoken to fast bowlers, when they tour abroad they have an extra layer of protection in their shoes to avoid injuries while batting. Those injuries can cost you series. Because its Bumrah and we have another 3 Tests to go, as a team he is very important for us,” Ojha said on Sports Today.
Ex-India wicketkeeper Deep Dasgupta however, differed from Ojha and was actually okay with Bumrah batting as a nightwatchman.
“I agree with the decision because defensively he is your best option unless you want to send Ashwin. The whole concept of a nightwatchman is to protect the batsman who’s out in there and those who are going to come after that.
“If your looking at a defensive technique then I’d pick Bumrah over the others. I would have actually asked Ashwin if he wanted to bat as nightwatchman even though I think he’s a proper batsman. But I’m alright with Bumrah going in,” Dasgupta said.
Bumrah bagged 2 wickets in Australia’s 1st innings but it was Ashwin who starred with the ball, taking 4 for 55 as India took a first-innings lead of 53 runs.
Earlier, Australia captain Tim Paine’s side needed just 22 minutes and 4.1 overs to wrap up India’s first innings for 244.
