India’s fast bowler Bhuvneshwar Kumar reckons that it would be a challenge for the team to play against Australia in the pink-ball Test. Virat Kohli’s men will play the second Test of their Australia’s tour at Adelaide Oval from December 11, which would be a day-night fixture. In fact, it would be India’s maiden pink-ball Test in overseas conditions.
India had played their first day-night Test match against Bangladesh at Eden Gardens, Kolkata in October 2019, which they won convincingly. However, the team will need to pull up its socks against the potent Australian team. In fact, Australia has thus far played seven pink-ball Test matches and they won have 100% record in the same.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar is going to hold the key
India had savored success on the previous Australian tour after they won their maiden series 2-1 on the Australian soil. However, as David Warner and Steven Smith are back in Australia’s squad, it would be a challenge for the tourists to replicate their success.
“Everyone is excited for the series between India and Australia as after a long time, there would be a game to watch, and also, we would be playing against one of the toughest opponents out there,” Bhuvneshwar said while talking to ANI in a telephonic interview.
“It is going to be fun to play with the pink ball in Adelaide,” he said
Kumar believes it would help the team if they will train in Australia during the quarantine period and it would help them in acclimatizing to the conditions. The right-arm pacer also gave credit to Indian captain Virat Kohli for backing the pace battery and giving them the confidence.
“I do not know whether it (bowling attack) is the best or not but it is very good for sure because of every individual’s ability. You need the support of the captain through everything and Virat has always been helpful to each of us.”
On the other hand, it is known that the pink ball swings more than the red ball, and hence Bhuvneshwar Kumar could be in action in the second Test of the series. Bhuvneshwar had not played any Test matches on the previous Australian tour but he was the leading wicket-taker in the ODI series as he scalped eight wickets in three matches at an impressive average of 17.38.
Ergo, Bhuvneshwar Kumar would like to be at his best on the Australian tour and he would aim to push for his place in the Test side. Currently, Mohammed Shami, Ishant Sharma, and Jasprit Bumrah are India’s first-choice fast bowlers.