IND vs SA Live: Pujara & Rahane fail to make a mark- Chesteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane walked into bat knowing that they are fighting for their careers on Day 4 in Centurion. However, the Indian senior pros struggled, falling cheaply in the second innings as India were bundled out for 174. The failures could cost them heavily, with the likes of Shreyas Iyer and Hanuma Vihari warming the bench. Follow India vs South Africa Live Updates on InsideSPort.IN.
IND vs SA LIVE: Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane fail to repay faith, will Kohli back Vihari and Iyer to takeover?
A rock-solid batting only to be marred by a poor shot selection and a golden duck — it sums up how Ajinkya Rahane and Cheteshwar Pujara batted in the first innings of the 1st Test against South Africa. The two have been under the scanner for long and the second innings on Day 4 in Centurion will be their last opportunity to cement their place at least for another Test.
In the first innings, Ajinkya Rahane kept on motivating himself, saying “watch the ball, watch the ball”. While he did that for 101 balls, on Day 3, a lapse of concentration and all his hard work ended in disappointment. His well-made 48 might be enough to keep his place but the pattern of his wickets will be under immense scrutiny.
In England, he nicked it to shorter deliveries and lost wickets 5 times in 12 innings. That has become his weakness now and has been exploited by opponent seamers. In the first innings, he kept on leaving such deliveries until the 102nd ball when he poked one to Quinton de Kock. With his weakness exposed and off-form mounting pressure on him, the former Test vice-captain will be aiming to resurrect his batting form.
Ajinkya Rahane reminding himself to watch the ball as the bowler runs up makes me realise how cruel cricket can be for such experienced guy.
For More News visit https://t.co/98KV4yqQ62#2YoDoINDIA #AjinkyaRahane #INDvSA pic.twitter.com/VkjveCQPEg
— 2YoDoINDIA Pvt. Ltd. (@2yodoindia) December 27, 2021
IND vs SA Live: All eyes on Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane as Iyer & Vihari warm bench – Follow Live Updates
Another similar failure could be fatal to his Test career especially with Shreyas Iyer and Hanuma Vihari warming the bench and are in good form. He has averaged just 19.57 in 2021 before the Centurion Test and will be looking to better that.
Oh Jinks. What have you done!!🤦🏻♂️
Ajinkya Rahane really needs a lesson on how to leave a ball.
He was looking so good 🥲Waiting for @ThatCric8Girl ‘s tweet on this Dismissal 👀#INDvsSA #INDvSA #CricketTwitter #Cricket #BCCI #BoxingDayTest #AjinkyaRahane #Rahane #Centuriontest pic.twitter.com/np7YcNikY1
— Jonah Abraham 😷 (@JonahAbraham26) December 28, 2021
IND vs SA Live: All eyes on Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane as Iyer & Vihari warm bench – Follow Live Updates
Ajinkya Rahane dismissals
- vs NZ (WTC Final), 2nd innings: Nicked it to BJ Watling on 49
- vs ENG, 2nd Test, 1st Innings: Nicked it to Joe Root on 1
- vs ENG, 2nd Test, 2nd innings: Nicked it to Jos Buttler on 61
- vs ENG, 3rd Test, 1st innings: Thin edge to Jos Buttler on 18
- vs ENG, 3rd Test, 2nd innings: Edged to Buttler on 10
- vs SA, 1st Test, 1st innings: Shorter delivery and edged it to Quinton de Kock on 48
Cheteshwar Pujara: Considered to be the wall of Indian batting in the current set-up, he has rescued India single-handedly on numerous occasions. But in the last 12 months, it is Team India which have come to his rescue. He has been shielded by skipper Virat Kohli time and again.
IND vs SA Live: All eyes on Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane as Iyer & Vihari warm bench – Follow Live Updates
What a catch by Keegan Petersen to dismiss Cheteshwar Pujara🔥
Head to the CSA App for a recap of all the action from Day 1 of the first Test of the #FreedomTestSeries: https://t.co/qffnjyuCW8#SAvIND #BetwayTestSeries #BePartOfIt pic.twitter.com/IysvUMzEvh
— Cricket South Africa (@OfficialCSA) December 27, 2021
But that may not be the case anymore as the skipper himself is under immense pressure for his poor form. A golden duck and soft dismissal in the 1st innings of the Centurion Test did not help his case. That he has averaged just 28.38 in 2021 and is without a century in over 1,000 days is something that is going against him.
Head coach Rahul Dravid, the original wall of Indian cricket, might have patted him on the back to motivate him but another failure may not invoke a similar gesture from him.
IND vs SA Live: All eyes on Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane as Iyer & Vihari warm bench – Follow Live Updates
Dravid sir backing Pujara #INDvsSA pic.twitter.com/yhAhyOqcKL
— Abhishek Jain (@abhishe91414030) December 27, 2021
The second innings will be a chance to showcase his new approach as he did against New Zealand at home and England in the 4th Test. He showed an aggressive approach from the get-go and that will be something India will need on Day 4 at the SuperSport Park to help India post a big lead.
But any slip-ups could result in him being axed from the Playing XI for the 2nd Test as Team India are gunning for their first Test series win in South Africa and would not want to have any weak links.
IND vs SA Live: All eyes on Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane as Iyer & Vihari warm bench – Follow Live Updates
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