The writings were there on the wall. And it’s almost time to bid goodbye to two of the finest Test cricketers in India: Ajinkya Rahane and Cheteshwar Pujara. The duo will not be a part of IND vs SA Test series. Instead, selectors named Shreyas Iyer and Shubman Gill apart from Ruturaj Gaikwad. As the new World Test Championship cycle (2023-25) is here, India Cricket Team are set to focus on youth and look at past performers. Hence when India face the Proteas in two Tests at Centurion and Johannesburg on December 26 and January 3 respectively, they will be without Rahane & Pujara.
Pujara and Rahane have been the mainstays of the Indian middle order in Tests for over a decade. The duo have almost played almost 200 Tests between them. They have played instrumental parts in getting India out of tricky situations numerous times. However, both were on the fringe after failing to impress with their performance in the last Tests they played.
Cheteshwar Pujara has had a long Test career. The middle-order batter played 103 Test matches in his career, scoring 7195 runs at an average of over 43. He has 19 centuries and three double centuries to his name. However, he failed to perform with the bat during WTC final, scoring 14 and 27 in both innings respectively.
Rahane, who unlike Pujara found a firm footing with his scores of 46 and 89 in the WTC final, fizzled out in the next Test series against West Indies. His single-figure scores of 3 & 8 in the two Tests against West Indies may have drilled the final nail in his Test career’s coffin.
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With Shreyas Iyer coming into the Test side, Rahane and Pujara’s chances were limited anyway in IND vs SA Test series. Yashasvi Jaiswal’s firm showing in the West Indies series means he will be claiming to keep his place as an opener along with Rohit Sharma despite KL Rahul returning.
Shubman Gill is expected to bat at number three, with Virat Kohli coming in at four. Shreyas will slot in at 5 and Ravindra Jadeja will come at 6 before wicketkeeper Ishan Kishan. With players such as KL Rahul in the squad, the goodbye bells may have already rung for Pujara and Rahane.
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