"No bowler would have said that he needed a long-on" - Cheteshwar Pujara criticizes India's tactics in IND vs SA 2025 1st Test

Former India player Cheteshwar Pujara has criticized the Indian team's tactics on Day 3 of the first Test against South Africa. He noted that the captain and team management potentially decided to set defensive fields, highlighting that no bowler would have asked for fielders in the deep.

India allowed South Africa to post a 153-run total in their second innings after they started the day (Sunday, November 16) at 93/7. The hosts were then bowled out for 93 while chasing a 124-run target, losing the game by 30 runs.

During a discussion on Star Sports, Pujara was asked whether the Indian bowlers might have had a say in the defensive fields set on the third morning.

"A bowler has very little say. When the strategy is made, the management and the captain have a greater input. As the game progresses, the bowlers tell their ideas to the captain. When the game starts, the captain and management discuss in the meeting, and then the bowlers are told about the field they will get and how they will have to bowl," the former India batter responded.

"No bowler would have said that he needed a long-on, or a deep square leg, or a deep fine leg. The captain and team management would have decided that, and they would have had to bowl according to that. Rishabh Pant is a stand-in captain, so we don't know how big a say he has," he added.

Cheteshwar Pujara opined that the morning meeting between the captain and the team management lacked clarity. He reasoned that the initial strategy was defensive, assuming the South African batters might play aggressively, which allowed them to get set.

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"The Indian team missed a trick" - Cheteshwar Pujara on the long-on for Temba Bavuma on Day 3 of IND vs SA 2025 1st Test

Temba Bavuma bailed South Africa out of trouble with an unbeaten half-century. [P/C: Getty]

In the same discussion, Cheteshwar Pujara opined that India missed a trick by placing a long-on for Temba Bavuma.

"The Indian team missed a trick. Temba Bavuma scored only five percent of his runs towards mid-on. A long-on fielder was kept for him from the start. It wasn't understandable. If a batter hasn't stepped out and hit Axar Patel or Ravindra Jadeja over the top, why are you trying to keep that fielder in the deep for him? Why are you giving him a single easily?" he said.

The cricketer-turned-commentator added that the South African skipper should have been forced to hit Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel over the top.

"The sweep is his shot. You can place a fielder in the deep there for sure, but this five percent is because of singles. You could have reduced that five percent. Bring that mid-on fielder up, keep him on strike, and let Ravindra Jadeja or Axar Patel bowl six balls at him. Then he will have to do something new. He will have to go outside his comfort zone. That didn't happen today morning," Pujara observed.

Temba Bavuma struck only four fours during his unbeaten 55-run knock. He added 44 runs for the eighth wicket with Corbin Bosch (25 off 37), which proved to be a decisive partnership.