Accoridng to the recent reports of Cricbuzz, the Indian skipper, Virat Kohli, will be coming back to the Test squad for the second game against New Zealand at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai and he will be replacing the veteran batter, Cheteshwar Pujara in the playing XI. Pujara has been witnessing a lean patch for quite some time, especially in home conditions.
Pujara failed to do well in the home Test series against England earlier this year. However, Ajinkya Rahane, who lead the team in the first Test at Green Park stadium in Kanpur has also been witnessing a rough patch in his career in recent times, but being a deputy skipper he seems to be getting a longer rope.
Virat Kohli likely to replace Cheteshwar Pujara for the 2nd Test match against New Zealand at Wankhede. (Reported by Cricbuzz).
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) December 2, 2021
With Shreyas Iyer scoring 105 and 65 on debut, it would be almost criminal to drop the stylish Mumbaikar, and understandably, India’s batting coach, Vikram Rathour had to fend questions on Pujara and Rahane’s form after the Kanpur Test.
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Vikram Rathour had said, “Of course, you want the top-order to contribute but cricketers (Pujara and Rahane) you mentioned they have played 80 (79 for Rahane) and 90 Tests (91 Test for Pujara). Of course, to play that many games, they must have done well for us.”
Rathour also added, “We understand that both of them are going through a lean phase but we understand that they have both played very, very important knocks for us in the past. We are pretty sure that they are going to come back and play important knocks for us.”
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It is going to be a tightrope walk for the Indian team management when its best batter comes back in the next game.
Even Pujara and Rahane know very well that one among the two could get the axe at least for the game although they are both expected to be selected for South Africa Tests if the tour goes on.
