Indian Cricket LIVE Updates: 5 Cricketers whose careers are on line – In what was considered a final frontier ended up being a rude shock to Team India as they return from their dreadful tour against South Africa empty-handed. After winning the 1st Test at Centurion, India lost the next five games on the tour, including a humiliating 3-0 whitewash in the ODI series, which culminated on Sunday. The Indian Cricket team is now staring at a rejig of sorts, meaning five cricketers will have to battle it out for their futures in the side. Follow Insidesport.in for all Indian cricket LIVE Updates.
Indian Cricket LIVE Updates: 5 Cricketers whose careers are on line after DISASTER in South Africa
Cheteshwar Pujara
It has been three years since Cheteshwar Pujara scored a Test hundred and the Saurashtra born batter has struggled for runs over the past couple of years. Pujara a mainstay in the side for most of the last decade, has had successive failures, with only one half-century of note in South Africa. With the likes of Hanuma Vihari, Shubman Gill, Shreyas Iyer and Suryakumar Yadav all pushing for a place in the side, it is almost certain that Pujara is on the firing line and only a miracle could help him keep his spot in the XI.
| Mat | Runs | HS | Avg | SR | 100s | 50s | 0s | |
| 2020 | 4 | 163 | 54 | 20.37 | 27.48 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 2021 | 14 | 702 | 91 | 28.08 | 34.17 | 0 | 6 | 3 |
| 2022 | 2 | 108 | 53 | 27 | 47.16 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
Ajinkya Rahane
Like Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane has also long struggled to find consistency over the past few seasons. Barring his century in the boxing day Test at the MCG, Rahane has done little to justify his selection in the team, and was recently sacked as vice-captain of the side in favour of Rohit Sharma. In Kohli and Rohit’s absence, India opted to hand the reigns to KL Rahul than to Rahane, in what suggests that it is the end of the road for the Mumbai born batter.
| Mat | Runs | HS | Avg | SR | 100s | 50s | 0s | |
| 2020 | 4 | 272 | 112 | 38.85 | 42.36 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 2021 | 13 | 479 | 67 | 20.82 | 43.03 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| 2022 | 2 | 68 | 58 | 17 | 68 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
Indian Cricket LIVE Updates: 5 Cricketers whose careers are on line after DISASTER in South Africa
Ravichandran Ashwin (ODIs)
Ravichandran Ashwin made a sensational comeback into the T20Is during the T20 World Cup, but his almost five-year wait for an ODI comeback did not reap the same dividends in South Africa. The veteran off-spinner generally bowled flat and did little to trouble the batsman in both games, before being dropped in favour of Jayant Yadav for the series dead rubber. Meanwhile, Yuzvendra Chahal was far impressive in comparison in the middle overs in tying down the batters. With Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel bound to return from injury, Ashwin’s future in the ODI set-up looks bleak following his South Africa stint.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar
The South Africa series could potentially be the last time Bhuvneshwar Kumar donned India colours. The 33-year-old veteran was a shadow of his former self as he went for runs in both games without picking up a wicket. Bhuvi then made way for Deepak Chahar, who responded with figures of 2/53 and a quick-fire half-century taking India on the fringes of a win. With injuries and form bogging down Bhuvneshwar Kumar, it seems like a long road before the 33-year-old can make his way back to the Indian set-up.
KL Rahul (as captain)
KL Rahul had his first taste of leadership on the tour of South Africa, and it got off to the worst possible start for the Indian opener. Rahul lead the team in the 2nd test at Johannesburg, India’s only defeat at the venue after six unbeaten games. He then lead the team in the three-match ODI series, where India were whitewashed, becoming the first Indian captain to lose all of his first three Odis as skipper. Rahul’s captaincy was slammed by Sunil Gavaskar and BCCI officials, and given his Punjab Kings reign, it could be a quick exit for Kl Rahul the leader.
Indian Cricket LIVE Updates: 5 Cricketers whose careers are on line after DISASTER in South Africa
