IND vs SA Live: Pujara-Rahane plays career-saving knocks – On the brink of being dropped from the team, Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane finally repaid the trust. But both will have to thank head coach Rahul Dravid whose pep talk during the warm-up helped as Pujara and Rahane showed they are not yet ‘Purane’ as the netizens said and scored individual half-centuries to rescue the team while saving their careers. Follow India vs South Africa Live Updates on InsideSport.IN.
After managing just 3 and 0 in the first innings, Pujara and Rahane had just the second innings to save their careers. The two had not scored a half-century in 8 and 10 innings respectively and had their backs against the wall. Pujara brought up his fifty off just 62 balls while Rahane completed his in 70 balls.
IND vs SA LIVE: PEP TALK by Coach Rahul Dravid works magic as Ajinkya Rahane & Cheteshwar Pujara score match & career-saving 50s
Ever since Rahul Dravid retired from cricket, Cheteshwar Pujara emerged as the new wall for Team India. He could shoulder on India’s innings single-handedly at any conditions. But the new wall of Indian cricket had his back against the wall with a string of poor performances.
IND vs SA LIVE: PEP TALK by Coach Rahul Dravid works magic as Ajinkya Rahane & Cheteshwar Pujara score match & career saving 50s
In the last 12 months, his average dropped below 30 and he no longer provided the solidity the No 3 needed. During this period, he managed six half-centuries in 28 innings but the string of low scores piled up. Ajinkya Rahane has been on the same boat but in worse condition.
His technique and intent have been questioned. He too has averaged below 30 in the last 12 months while the repeated manner he has been dismissed was also under the scanner. Even Sunil Gavaskar didn’t spare the two. He said the 2nd innings in the 2nd Test will be their last chance as Hanuma Vihari and Shreyas Iyer have been waiting on the bench for far too long.
IND vs SA LIVE: PEP TALK by Coach Rahul Dravid works magic as Ajinkya Rahane & Cheteshwar Pujara score match & career-saving 50s
“After those two dismissals one can say that they probably have just the next innings, both Pujara and Rahane, to save their Test careers. There have been questions asked about their place in the team and now with these two dismissals they have just one innings left. If there is another innings and the way India is going, it looks like there will be another for them to score something and maybe keep their place in the team,” Sunil Gavaskar after the first innings.
Rahul Dravid’s pep talk – Rahul Dravid had backed the two going into the second Test and knew what was at stake for the two veterans. During India’s warm-up, Rahul Dravid dedicated some time to the struggling Pujara and Rahane and the pep talk seemed to work like magic.
With both openers — KL Rahul and Mayank Agarwal — departing early, Cheteshwar Pujara brought up his aggressive side and smashed his 37th Test fifty off just 62 balls. His 111-run partnership with Ajinkya Rahane helped India steady the ship while also saving his career. It was his first fifty in 8 innings and it did help him save his career, at least for the next series.
IND vs SA LIVE: PEP TALK by Coach Rahul Dravid works magic as Ajinkya Rahane & Cheteshwar Pujara score match & career-saving 50s
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