"Bowling attack suddenly looked average" - Former India cricketer after Australia registers 10 wicket win in BGT 2024-25 2nd Test

Former India batter Sanjay Manjrekar has stressed that the Indian bowling attack was exposed in their 10-wicket loss to Australia in the second Test in Adelaide. Manjrekar reckoned that the tourists' bowling is entirely dependent on Jasprit Bumrah.

The 59-year-old added that Mohammed Siraj was unable to support Bumrah equally while other seam options like Harshit Rana and Nitish Kumar Reddy looked all at sea.

Rana, in particular, returned wicketless in the Test match, conceding 86 runs in 16 overs.

Manjrekar pointed out how Australian opener Nathan McSweeney and under-fire Marnus Labuschagne took the game away from India after Bumrah went off the attack.

Later, Travis Head punished the visitors with his brilliant knock of 140.

Sanjay Manjrekar told ESPNcricinfo (via India Today):

"The Indian bowling attack suddenly looked average. There was Bumrah, a bit of Siraj and Harshit Rana realised that every day is not going to be like the Perth Test match."

"Credit to young Nathan McSweeney and Marnus Labuschagne who grafted the innings. But there was not relentless quality bowling at those guys and that's why maybe India wasn't able to cash in," he added.

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"He is not quite Mohammed Shami" - Sanjay Manjrekar on Mohammed Siraj after India's loss in Adelaide

Sanjay Manjrekar further pointed out that Mohammed Siraj is nowhere close to Mohammed Shami, who can generate a lot of swing.

He said in the same interaction:

"In Adelaide, in both innings, there was more of a reality check for the No.3 and No.4 of what they have to face in foreign conditions when the bowlers are holding their swing. There is of course a lack of experience with the kind of bowling attack that India have."

"There is Harshit Rana, Mohammed Siraj has been there before but he is not quite Mohammed Shami. Just put Shami in that equation in that evening session (Day 1 Adelaide) and the story would have been different."

Meanwhile, India captain Rohit Sharma has confirmed that Mohammed Shami, who recently recovered from an injury, is unlikely to play the remaining Tests in Australia. He told reporters (via ESPNcricinfo):

"We are just monitoring him because while playing Syed Mushtaq Ali, he got some swelling in his knee, which hampers his preparation to come and play a Test match. We want to be very careful, we don't want to bring him here, he pulls up sore or something happens."

Meanwhile, there is an injury concern regarding Jasprit Bumrah, who pulled his leg in the match. The pacer, however, continued to bowl after first aid.