‘I don’t think they supported Jasprit Bumrah much’ – Bharat Arun opines about India’s bowling attack in Centurion

The hosts took a 1-0 lead in the two-match series when India conceded 408 runs in the second innings and lost by an innings and 32 runs

Former Indian bowling coach Bharat Arun has discussed how India’s bowling performance in the first Test match against South Africa in Centurion affected the team. The hosts took a 1-0 lead in the two-match Test series as India gave up 408 runs in the second innings and lost by an innings and 32 runs.

Jasprit Bumrah’s performance was lauded by Arun, who feels that his fellow pacers should have done more to help the elite speedster. Notably, the inability of Shardul Thakur and Prasidh Krishna to contribute allowed the hosts to amass a massive first-inning total.

“There were far too many boundaries scored. Adapting your bowling to different conditions is crucial. If you are in good form, just awareness of the conditions is more than sufficient for you to adapt. I think bowlers at an international level should be able to adapt a lot more easily than bowlers who are just starting. With the experience that the Indian team has, I think we should have adapted. Bumrah bowled exceptionally well but the rest of them, I don’t think they supported him much the way they should have,” Arun told Revsportz.

“At least don’t give away so many runs at that pace. The pace at which they get the runs becomes very important for them to set up Test matches. If you ask me in one word, it is the bowling discipline that counts – understanding and more awareness of the conditions and what are the likely lengths to be bowling in these conditions is the key to any success for a bowling unit,” he added.

Arun talks about KL Rahul’s comeback

Arun continued to heap praise on KL Rahul for his century, which came at a crucial moment for the team and enabled them to post a fighting total of 245 runs. He did, however, voice his displeasure with the Indian hitters after they managed just 131 runs in the second inning.

“Well, to see India come back and [KL] Rahul get that century was quite happening. And there was quite a lot of help in the wicket for the bowlers. So we had a very, very positive feeling about the whole thing. And we thought that we could clearly make a Test match out of this. I think winning or losing a Test match is okay. But I think the way we lost the last Test – we surrendered meekly in the second innings – is not a good feeling,” he further added.

• 
• 
•