Ajinkya Rahane-Cheteshwar Pujara's backdoor entry confirmed after Virat Kohli-Rohit Sharma's retirement
Published - 12 May 2025, 07:20 PM | Updated - 12 May 2025, 11:39 PM
Table of Contents
The two Indian GOATs Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma retired from Test cricket in the span of one week, and now cricketer-turned-commentator Aakash Chopra raised issues on the Indian Test team batting squad after the departure of the two greats from the squad.
All questions revolve around India's batting unit for the upcoming India tour of England in June 2025. For the first time in 14 years, Men in Blue will be playing a Test match without Kohli or Rohit.
The visitors' core batting unit is relatively inexperienced, and this tour against England will be the first series of the World Test Championship (WTC) 20275-27 cycle.
Who will replace Kohli and Rohit in Tests?
According to Chopra, Ajinkya Rahane or Cheteshwar Pujara might be included in the Test squad for this Test series only because the less experienced players in the batting unit can harm the chances of the Indian team in the WTC 2025-27 final.
Pujara is scoring runs in the domestic circuit and in the England County Championship as well. He will be the front-runner to make his comeback in the Test squad after the WTC 2023 final against Australia.
While Ajinkya Rahane also led Mumbai to win the Ranji Trophy 2024. He scored 437 runs in 12 innings, including a century and two half-centuries. He also played his last Test match in 2023.
Also read: 'God' bows to 'King' as Sachin Tendulkar pays tribute to Virat Kohli on Test retirement
"There was another discussion that if Virat Kohli is not going, although it's been heard that someone is trying to convince him, can Ajinkya Rahane or Cheteshwar Pujara return, just for this series?" Aakash Chopra said.
"Can the team go in that direction? Can they think from that point of view? I am voicing it because it's the England tour. If it had been any other tour, I would have said 'let's go with kids.' However, if both Kohli and Rohit are not there, maybe you want to think about Pujara or Rahane. Both are playing well and scoring runs," he added.
Which spot is open in the Indian Test team?
Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul will definitely open for Team India, and after Kohli's departure, Shubman Gill might come at no.4 and the number 3 slot will open the gate for Rahane or Pujara.
The numbers 5 and 6 are set for Rishabh Pant and Nitish Kumar Reddy, and then Ravindra Jadeja will come at no. 7. There might be a position for Ajinkya Rahane or Cheteshwar Pujara to make it to the squad.
Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane's Test record
Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane have been the pillars of the Indian team in recent years. They have been put aside after India's loss in the WTC final against Australia in 2023.
Rahane scored 5077 runs at an average of 38.5 in 85 Test matches. He made 12 centuries and 26 half-centuries in his Test career.
While Pujara played 103 Test matches and scored 7195 runs with an average of 43.6. He made 19 tons and 35 half-centuries in his Test career.
Tagged:
Cheteshwar Pujara Ajinkya Rahane India National Cricket Team Virat Kohli Rohit Sharma Aakash Chopra
