Ranji Trophy 2022: Lifeline for Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane – India’s test veterans Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane have been handed yet another chance to get their careers back on track with the Ranji Trophy 2022 all set to begin next week. With the Indian limited-overs side in action, Pujara and Rahane both will hit the domestic circuit to get back into form and retain their place in the Test series against Sri Lanka. With the tests set to begin in the first week of March, the two out of favour Indian stars have the chance to impress and make one last claim for a spot in the XI. Follow Insidesport.in for all IND vs SL updates.
Ranji Trophy 2022: Out of form Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane handed lifeline to get careers back on track ahead of SL series
The Elite group games will start from February 16 after the Plate group matches begin from February 10 and both Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane will get two Ranji Trophy matches at least to convince the selectors
Both seasoned batters have already started training with the Mumbai and Saurashtra squad respectively and are determined to score the big runs that are expected of them. In fact, both will be in opposite teams if they are part of the crucial Saurashtra-Mumbai fixture in Ahmedabad.
“Ajinkya is definitely looking forward to it. We have met a few times now, he has been practising with the Mumbai team. He has had about couple of sessions already. Looked absolutely in fine touch. We don’t have to look too much into the future but what is lying ahead of us is Ranji Trophy. They both are due for a big one. I feel it is just a question of confidence,” Mumbai coach Amol Mujumdar told PTI.
“If you can regain that confidence somehow. It will come only if you score a big hundred,” added Mujumdar.
Ranji Trophy 2022: Out of form Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane handed lifeline to get careers back on track ahead of SL series
BCCI president and former Indian captain Sourav Ganguly also expects Pujara and Rahane to pile on the runs in the premier domestic competition. The duo’s prolonged inconsistent run has divided opinions with many saying it is time for the younger lot to replace them in the middle-order with Shubman Gill, Shreyas Iyer and Hanuma Vihari all waiting in the wings. The calls have only gotten louder following the loss in South Africa.
While Ajinkya Rahane has been working hard in the Mumbai nets, Pujara on Thursday had his first session with defending champions Saurashtra at the SCA Stadium in Rajkot. As per reports, Pujara batted for 90 minutes in the nets besides undergoing fitness training. He specifically asked the pacers to bowl reverse swing.
“Pujara is not like other batters. He always has a specific plan when he walks into the nets. He is very meticulous in the way he trains. Today he wanted to practise against reverse swing which he may encounter in the Sri Lanka series,” Saurashtra coach Niraj Odedra told PTI.
Ranji Trophy 2022: Out of form Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane handed lifeline to get careers back on track ahead of SL series
