KANPUR: Batting coach Vikram Rathour is fully “understanding” that Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane are now India Players living in borrowed time. But on Sunday the former opener could not give a definite answer as to who would sit out to accommodate the return of skipper Virat Kohli in the next Test against New Zealand. With Shreyas Iyer scoring 105 and 65 on debut, it would be almost criminal to drop the stylish Mumbaikar, and apparently, Rathor had to question the form of Pujara and Rahane in the Mumbai Test, starting December 3. “Of course, you want to contribute to the top order but the cricketers (Pujara and Rahane) you mentioned have played 80 (79 for Rahane) and 90 Tests (91 for Pujara).
India vs New Zealand Full Coverage , India vs New Zealand Schedule , India vs New Zealand result
Rathor did his best to defend a below 20 Test average of 30.42 by the stand-in captain (19.57) and his deputy, “Of course, having played so many games, he would have done well for us.” We understand Rathore’s statement of lack of conviction.
But what kind of long rope is given to a senior player who has performed well in the past? Is it 15 or 20 tests? The former Punjab opener, who played six Tests during the 1996–97 season, felt it could not be quantified. “I don’t think you can put any numbers on that. It really depends on what position the team is in and what the team has to do.”
Read also | ‘Don’t think Ajinkya Rahane is mentally disturbed; Footwork is an issue’ – Pragyan Ojha
The next question was even more straightforward: Who do you leave behind when Kohli takes back his spot in the Mumbai game? “The captain is coming back, he will be in the next game and we will reach that point when we reach Mumbai. The focus is on the game and there is a day to go and a game to be won. We will reach that point when we get to Mumbai,” the memories opener answered the question. Can he, at least, say with certainty that Iyer, after his dream debut, is not out of the team There was a time when Karun Nair was left to cool his heels after scoring a treble ton as an injured Rahane was making a comeback.
“Once we reach Mumbai, we will decide what our playing XI will be,” he reiterated. It will be a tough move for the Indian team management when their best batsman comes back in the next game.
Read also: ‘Rahane will probably make way for Kohli, Iyer difficult to leave’
Even Pujara and Rahane are well aware that either of them can at least get the ax for the game although both are expected to be picked for the South Africa Test if the tour continues . The problem with accommodating Pujara and Rahane is that the two juniors – Shubman Gill and Iyer – who could have been easily disposable after a singular failure, scored and came off a tough, if not invincible surface with too much authority. done with
One thing is certain, Mayank Agarwal (13 and 17) will have to sit in Mumbai after his double failures and herein lies the problem. There are few options by which one can slot Pujara and Rahane for the next game. No one is convinced, but it’s a way of showing respect to two quality players who deserve another chance.
One is to ask Pujara to open the batting, which seems to be no less than his confidence level at the moment. The other option would be to either see Wriddhiman Saha opening the innings with Gill and Iyer, who bat at No. 5 in this game, instead of No. 6. Provided that Saha is fully fit with his neck stiffness problem, which troubled him in this game. If Saha is not fit, Srikar Bharat, who has been a red-ball opener with a triple century in first-class cricket, can be tried.
The third option is playing with four bowlers and Iyer is expected to give at least 10 overs of leg spin as well as three other spinners while leaving one pacer. And then there’s also the fourth option: leave one to Pujara and Rahane straight away, but in Indian cricket, the system of dealing with star players is a bit different than in England and Australia.
,
get all IPL news and cricket score Here
,