'India's Bowling Attack Isn't Strong': Ex-India Captain Makes Bold Statement Ahead Of Ahmedabad Test

But with a little bit of help from a dry pitch, India can probably take 20 wickets. I think that is the thinking behind preparing such pitches, said Gavaskar.

Former India cricketer Sunil Gavaskar.

Source : Getty

Cricketer-turned-commentator Sunil Gavaskar has passed a bold remark on 'Indian bowlers' ahead of crucial India vs Australia 4th Test in Ahmedabad. The veteran also opined on the never-ending 'pitch debate', that started even before the IND vs AUS Border-Gavaskar series got underway.

Almost every critique in the cricket fraternity is blaming India for creating spin-friendly pitches or 'rank turners' to have a 'home advantage'. Notably, all so-called experts remained silent when India got bundled up for a mere 36 -- their lowest Total in a Test inning -- recently.

Meanwhile, Sunil Gavaskar, one of the most respected voices in the sport, revealed the reason behind the rank turners in India.

Former India legendary cricketer Sunil Gavaskar also spoke on the matter and said, “Taking 20 wickets is not going to be easy in India. On a lot of Indian pitches, without your ace bowlers Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami and a slightly inexperienced Mohammed Siraj, I don’t think that bowling attack is such (strong). But with a little bit of help from a dry pitch, India can probably take 20 wickets. I think that is the thinking behind preparing such pitches”.

Indian speedster Jasprit Bumrah is injured and still recuperating. The last time he featured for India was in last September. Because of his injury, he will be missing the IPL 2023 as well as the World Test Championship Final.

Gavaskar told India Today, “For India to reach the World Test Championship Final, they did not have any other options (than producing turning tracks). If you would have had a strong attack, maybe you could have done something different but your strength is your spinners and therefore I think these pitches are being made. You do not want a flat pitch where the batters go out and dominate. These pitches are testing the temperament of the batters.”

As far as the third match is concerned, India batted first and bowled out for just 109 runs on day 1 before Australia got an 88-run lead in the first innings. In the second innings, Rohit Sharma’s men only scored 163, giving the target of just 76 runs to the visitors. They chased down the target on day three with nine wickets in hand.

The Indian team have already retained the Border-Gavaskar Trophy for the fourth time on the trot as they won the first two Test matches at Nagpur and Delhi. However, the Kangaroos made a comeback and won the third Test that happened in Indore.  The series stand at 2-1 with one match to go.