India captain Rohit Sharma, who is all set to begin his captaincy tenure with the first Test in Mohali, has said that Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane will remain in the team’s ‘future plans’ whereas adding that it will not be easy to fill their shoes in the team as well.
Rahane and Pujara have been dropped from the squad for the two-match Test series against Sri Lanka. Rohit said that both Rahane and Pujara have played important role in India becoming the No. 1 Test team while talking about their future with the Test side as well.
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“Look, Rahane and Pujara are big shoes to fill, it will never be easy for whoever comes in, even I do not know who is going to come in for Rahane and Pujara honestly. Look, at what Pujara and Rahane have done for this team, you cannot put it out in words, all these years of hard work and playing 80-90 odd Tests, all those overseas Test wins. India getting to No.1 in Tests, these guys helped us in that situation and they have played a big part in that,” Rohit Sharma said during a virtual press conference.
“There is no way that these guys would not be looked upon in the future, they will be in our plans. Like the selector also said, it is just for now that we did not consider them. There is nothing written about them not being considered for the series later on,” he further added.
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When he was asked about his preferred opening partner in the absence of KL Rahul, Rohit Sharma had a decent answer. “I am a captain, I’ll prefer everyone to be in the team. We will see and analyze everything and then we will take a call. Mayank, Shubman, Shreyas and Vihari, all are brilliant and they are the future of Indian cricket. I think they need to be given a solid run for them to excel in this format and it is important for us to do that. It will start with the management showing enough support and backing so hopefully, these guys with enough backing, not just from me, but you guys, will also help,” Rohit Sharma concluded.
