Dinesh Karthik picks the players who can replace Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane for IND vs AUS Tests

As the cricket world eagerly awaits India’s upcoming tour to Australia, all eyes are on the Test squad selection, and Dinesh Karthik came up with a crucial suggestion on the burning question of who will step into the big shoes of Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane.

For over a decade, Pujara and Rahane were the backbone of India's middle order in Test cricket. Pujara, with 103 Test matches under his belt, amassed 7,195 runs at an impressive average of 43.60.

He notched up 19 centuries and 35 half-centuries across 176 innings, with his highest score being an unbeaten 206.

Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane's Team India chapter closed

On the other hand, Rahane played 85 Tests for the Indian cricket team. He amassed 5,077 runs at an average of 38.46, including 12 centuries and 26 fifties in 144 innings.

His top score in Tests was 188, highlighting his ability to deliver with the bat when it mattered most.

Together, Pujara and Rahane formed a reliable middle-order duo for India in the longest format of the game.

However, since India's remarkable victory at The Gabba in Brisbane in January 2021, their performances saw a significant decline, resulting in them being overlooked for Test selection for more than one year.

Rahane played his last Test against the West Indies in July 2023, while Pujara’s last appearance in Tests came against Australia in June 2023 at The Oval.

They were already told by the national selectors that they were looking beyond them in Tests.

Well, they are now out of contention for Test selection, and Karthik, former Indian wicketkeeper-batter, said that Shubman Gill and Sarfaraz Khan can be ideal replacements for Pujara and Rahane for the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 in Australia later this year.

Dinesh Karthik suggests Shubman Gill and Sarfaraz Khan as successors to Pujara and Rahane

Both young guns showcased their immense talent in the home Test series against England earlier this year, leaving selectors with little doubt that they are meant to be on the flight to Australia, according to the former wicketkeeper.

However, Dinesh Karthik predicted that Gill and Sarfaraz are almost certain to be picked for the upcoming five-match Test series in Australia, but replacing Pujara and Rahane, two pillars of India's Test batting lineup, will be a big challenge.

As the world is set to witness a new era, Dinesh Karthik mentioned that both batters possess the skill and temperament required to take on such a daunting task and hope they will be fantastic on the Australia tour.

They will definitely be on the flight to Australia: Dinesh Karthik

Dinesh Karthik was quoted as saying by Cricbuzz: “Shubman Gill and Sarfaraz Khan—both of those batters have done really well against England in the home series that recently happened at the start of the year."

"I have a feeling both of them will definitely be on that flight to Australia and will be trying to do their best. We will know if they're able to replace both Ajinkya and Pujara, big shoes to fill, but they have the quality and caliber in them,” Dinesh Karthik further stated.

Notably, before the Australia tour, India will host Bangladesh and New Zealand in a two-match and three-match Test series, respectively. The India vs. Bangladesh Test series will begin on September 19 in Chennai.