SA beat IND: Time to move on from Pujara and Rahane? – In the last four Test series, the one question that has remained constant is what about Ajinkya Rahane and Cheteshwar Pujara? Their inconsistent performance and flop shows continued in South Africa as India lost the Test series 1-2 due to yet another batting collapse. By now India Test skipper Virat Kohli has been irked with constant questions of Rahane and Pujara and said, ask the selectors while confirming that the veteran duo has his backing. Follow IND vs SA Live Updates on InsideSport.IN
“Obviously, batting has let us down in the last two games when we needed to step up. There is no running away from that. Honestly, I cannot sit here and talk about what will happen in the future. You will have to speak to the selectors what they have in mind (on Pujara and Rahane),” Virat Kohli said at the post-match virtual press conference on Friday.
SA beat IND: Irked with questions on Pujara and Rahane, Virat Kohli says, ‘It’s not my job, ask selectors about what they have in mind’
South Africa win the final Test by 7 wickets and clinch the series 2-1.#SAvIND pic.twitter.com/r3pGCbbaTx
— BCCI (@BCCI) January 14, 2022
Even though Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane stitched together a brilliant partnership, helping India set a competitive total in 2nd Test, they cannot avoid the blame. Barring those half-centuries, the duo has scored less than what India have received as extras.
South Africa have given away 136 runs as extras while Ajinkya Rahane has scored 136 and Chetshwar Pujara has scored 124 at 22.66 and 20.66 respectively.
SA beat IND: Irked with questions on Pujara and Rahane, Virat Kohli says, ‘It’s not my job, ask selectors about what they have in mind’
“As I said before we have continued to back Cheteshwar and Ajinkya for the kind of players they are, kind of performances they have put for India in the past. They played crucial knocks in the 2nd innings of last game. You saw that crucial partnership in the 2nd innings of last match that gave us a total that we could fight for. So, these are the performances we recognise as a team. What selectors have in mind and what they decide to do is not for me to comment,” Virat Kohli added.
SA beat IND: Irked with questions on Pujara and Rahane, Virat Kohli says, ‘It’s not my job, ask selectors about what they have in mind’
Also Read: SA beat IND: India’s loss in Cape Town post-mortem with Wasim Jaffer – Why India lost in Cape Town?
Editors pick
