'Best bowler of the series' - Cheteshwar Pujara showers praise on Aussie pacer Mitchell Starc

India's Test batting veteran Cheteshwar Pujara has heaped huge praises on Australian pacer Mitchell Starc as the best bowler of the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT). Ahead of the Boxing Day Test, Pujara mentioned the significant improvements in Starc's bowling.

The BGT series is tied 1-1, with both teams looking to once again lock horns in Melbourne starting on December 26. India managed to secure a crucial draw in the third Test in Brisbane in the rain-affected game. Meanwhile, Starc has been a crucial asset for Australia in the series, in the absence of Josh Hazlewood, who was sidelined due to injuries.

Starc has picked up 14 wickets in six innings at an average of 22.86, making him the second-highest wicket-taker in the series, just behind India’s Jasprit Bumrah. Pujara noted the contrast between Starc's performances in the earlier BGT series and his current form. 

“He has been the best bowler for them in this series. And the way Mitchell Starc has played in the last 1-1.5 years, he has brought a lot of improvement. And he has a lot of ability. If I talk about my personal experience, when he used to play in the last series in 2018 or 2021, I used to feel that if he plays against me, I will get runs. And now, when he is playing in this series, it feels like he will take wickets," Starc said exclusively to Star Sports.

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He is bowling very less loose deliveries: Cheteshwar Pujara

Pujara pointed out Starc’s improved accuracy and ability to hit consistent lengths, which have made him a dangerous pacer, especially with the new ball. The Indian batter also mentioned Starc’s ability to extract swing, which has troubled the Indian top-order.

"So what is the difference? The difference is that his line length, his accuracy has increased a lot. He is bowling very less loose deliveries. He is playing on the stump. Every ball is hitting on the good length spot. He is getting swing. So the change he has brought in his game has made him a different player. And he is looking more dangerous than Cummins and Hazlewood. So we will have to take care of his game, especially from the new games. In the first five overs, his first spell, he has taken the most wickets there," he added.

Pujara emphasized that handling Starc’s initial spells would be crucial for India’s success. The pacer's six-wicket haul in the pink-ball Test in Adelaide was key in Australia’s 10-wicket victory. 

"So if there is a good batting in the first five overs, bring him for the 2nd or 3rd spell. Because he gets tired. So the batting of the top order so far, our top order has never played in the 3rd or 4th spell. The ones who have played are the lower middle order and the tail-enders. And there we saw that when Bumrah and Akash were batting, when Mitchell Starc was bowling, he was not that effective. So they will have to play their new game well,” Pujara concluded.