India SA 2nd Test LIVE: ‘RUN-SHAME’ continues for Indian batting oldies Pujara & Rahane, will selectors, team management still back them? – The New Year did not bring about a change in fortunes for both Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane as they once again failed to make it count in the IND vs SA 2nd Test. In the absence of captain Virat Kohli, the onus was senior pros Pujara and Rahane to make a case for their careers, but both failed to do so, with Duanne Olivier dismissing them off successive deliveries in the 1st session. Follow Insidesport.in for all IND vs SA LIVE Updates.
India SA 2nd Test LIVE: ‘RUN-SHAME’ continues for Indian batting oldies Pujara & Rahane, will selectors, team management still back them?
Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane were dismissed off back to back deliveries as the Indian veterans failed yet again to make the most of their opportunity. Pujara managed to score just 3 before edging one off Olivier. Rahane walked in but was off were a golden duck as India slipped to 49/3 in the 1st session.
Cheteshwar Pujara has played 45 innings since February 2019, managing to score 1189 runs at a lowly average of 26.89. His last Test hundred came way back in January 2019, but the selectors and the team management have continued to back him at No. 3.
Cheteshwar Pujara’s dwindling numbers
| Seasons | Matches | Runs | HS | Average | Strike rate | 100s | 50s | 0s |
| season 2020/21 | 8 | 404 | 77 | 28.85 | 32.06 | 0 | 4 | 2 |
| season 2021 | 5 | 250 | 91 | 27.77 | 33.42 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| season 2021/22 | 4 | 114 | 47 | 16.28 | 35.51 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
Ajinkya Rahane meanwhile has averaged just 19 over the past 12 months and registered a first ball duck at Johannesburg. The Mumbai born batsman was sacked as vice captain considering his poor form with the bat, and Rahane has struggled to keep the questions at bay with repeated failures.
The former vice-captain has had four ducks in his last 16 games, with only three scores of 50+ in that period. Ajinkya Rahane averages less than 30 over the last three seasons, signalling his continued mediocrity and failure to turn his form around.
Ajinkya Rahane’s continued struggle for form
| Seasons | Matches | Runs | HS | Average | Strike rate | 100s | 50s | 0s |
| season 2020/21 | 8 | 380 | 112 | 29.23 | 47.26 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| season 2021 | 5 | 173 | 61 | 19.22 | 37.2 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| season 2021/22 | 3 | 107 | 48 | 21.4 | 52.45 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
India SA 2nd Test LIVE: ‘RUN-SHAME’ continues for Indian batting oldies Pujara & Rahane, will selectors, team management still back them?
India have shown great patience with both Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane but surely the time is now running out for the Indian veterans. The team management under Ravi Shastri and now Rahul Dravid have backed the experienced duo to come good, ahead of giving chances to Shreyas Iyer and Hanuma Vihari, despite both having shown their potential to play at the highest level.
Former Indian captain Sunil Gavaskar believes that both Pujara and Rahane are in the last chance saloon, and have just another innings to make their claim for a place in the XI. While on commentary duty, Gavaskar said, “Very poor from Ajinkya. Any good batsman would have left the ball. Pujara and Ajinkya now have just the next innings to keep their places.”
India SA 2nd Test LIVE: ‘RUN-SHAME’ continues for Indian batting oldies Pujara & Rahane, will selectors, team management still back them?
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