The batting legand and former India captain Sunil Gavaskar said on Monday that India’s struggling middle order batsman Cheteshwar Pujara, and Ajinkya Rahane may just have one more chance to save their Test careers. Gavaskar said this in his commentary following the pair of Pujara and Rahane left within a couple of deliveries from the bowl of Duanne Olivier during the opening session of play on the first day of the 2nd Test game that is being played between India with South Africa in Johannesburg.
Pujara got a dismissal for 3 off 33 deliveries after Olivier bowled a delivery that was short of length just outside the off stump which snatched the bat’s shoulder. The ball went into the air and Temba Bavuma took an easy catch fielding at point. It showed a batsman that has a low level of confidence.
On the next ball Rahane’s attempt to push out of the off stump was snatched at the 3rd slip by Keegan Petersen. He was out on the first ball scoring golden duck.
Gavaskar said that there have been questions raised regarding their position within the playing XI following numerous failures. The second half of this game may be the last opportunity to prove they are worthy of playing ahead of players who are in good form like Shreyas Iyer.
“After those two dismissals one can say that they probably have just the next innings, both Pujara and Rahane, to save their Test careers,” Gavaskar stated.
“There have been questions asked about their place in the team and now with these two dismissals they have just one innings left. If there is another innings and the way India is going, it looks like there will be another for them to score something and maybe keep their place in the team,” the former India captain added.
Hanuma Vihari took over the Captain Virat Kohli from the squad during the second Test, after Kohli was declared out with an upper back muscle spasm.
Pujara hasn’t scored an innings century in Test cricket since January 2019and Rahane’s form has been shaky to say the least in the last year or so.