Veteran India batter Cheteshwar Pujara has applauded Mitchell Starc for bowling a potent spell in India’s first innings of the second Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 as well. He also appreciated the left-arm seamer for the way he setup the wickets of Virat Kohli and KL Rahul. However, Starc registered figures of 6/48 in 14.1 overs as India were bowled out for 180 after opting to bat first in Adelaide on Friday, December 6. Australia ended Day 1 at 86/1 in their first innings, trailing the visitors by 94 runs as well.

During a discussion on Star Sports, Pujara said, “His line and length were both excellent. He has very good swing, but that swing is only effective when you bowl at the stumps. He bowled both full and short of the length at the stumps. When the ball had gotten older, the setup of Virat Kohli and KL Rahul was excellent. His numbers show that this was his best bowling to date in Test cricket, especially against India. This was his first five-wicket haul against India. He bowled extremely well, and the way he varied his length was excellent.”

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In the same discussion, Piyush Chawla also added that a swing bowler like Mitchell Starc can never be taken lightly as well.

“Mitchell Starc is the kind of bowler you can never count out, especially a bowler who can swing the ball in any condition. A bowler who can swing the ball is never out of the game, especially a bowler like Starc, who has always done so well on the world stage. He bowled short of the length and we were talking about Virat, he set him up. After that Ashwin, who was playing well against full deliveries from other bowlers, but when Mitchell Starc bowled full, he got late and the bat didn’t even come down. So this was world-class bowling today,” Chawla shared.