Batting Coach hints benching for either Pujara or Rahane in Mumbai test

Last updated on December 1st, 2021 at 10:57 am

Mumbai -By now, with the announcement of Virat Kohli returning back to the team, it is clear that either Cheteshwar Pujara or Ajinkya Rahane will have to take the bench.

Even Batting coach and former opener Vikram Rathour have understood that they are living off the edge and they will have to compromise in order to accommodate the skipper. However, he couldn’t give any definitive answer as to who will be sitting out in the upcoming India vs New Zealand test.

“Of course, you want the top-order to contribute but the cricketers (Pujara and Rahane) you mentioned have played 80 (79 for Rahane) and 90 Tests (91 Test for Pujara),” said Rathour. There was contention in the name of Shreyas Iyer but given his form and him scoring 105 and 65 on debut, it would be not reasonable to drop him in the coming match.

While Iyer was shining throughout the series, the two experienced openers seemed to take erie to get back into the rhythm hence Rathour was facing difficulty in describing the whole situation.

Related Posts

• BCCI confirms Virat Kohli in squad against South Africa for ODI
• BCCI to urge CSA to postpone India tour South Africa
• Cricketing Circle Applauds India’s T20 Victory Against New Zealand Under Rahul Dravid
• First T20 World Cup Win for Australia, team brightens Dubai grounds
• Hardik Pandya Issues a Statement on Twitter Over Airport Customs Seizing Watches Worth 5 Crores
• India Vs South Africa Match: India Lost Against South Africa; Virat Kohli Gave Dreaded Stare To Rishabh Pant
• Kohli was informed about his removal as a captain 90 minutes before selection committee sat down for SA tour
• Netizen’s Question BCCI, Why Team India’s New Diet Plan Includes Only Halal Meat, No Pork or Beef
• Why was Hanuma Vihari excluded in the squad against NZ? Sunil Gavaskar explains

The batting coach described the situation saying that the two batsmen are going through a ‘lean hase’ and before deciding anything, we have to understand that the two have been extremely useful for the team in the past. “We are pretty sure that they are going to come back and play important knocks for us,” Rathour said.

When the coach was directly questioned about who will be the one to be dropped in the Mumbai test, Rathour once again kept the answers hanging as he stressed that the decision will only be taken when the team reaches Mumbai. He rather talked about the ongoing match saying that the focus is constantly on the game and it has to be won. Rahane and Pujara, both of them come with a lot of test experience and are masters at the format but in this series, things are not working out for them. At this point, even the two are aware that one of them will be dropped but again, there is a possibility of their selection for the South African test, if everything falls into place.