Heartbreak for Cheteshwar Pujara & Ajinkya Rahane; both dismissed on nervous nineties in Ranji Trophy
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India's veteran cricketers Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane missed out on their respective hundreds in the ongoing Ranji Trophy. While Pujara is representing Saurashtra, Rahane is playing for Mumbai.
Both of them played brilliant knocks for their respective sides but were out in the nervous nineties. But their knocks took their team to a dominating position in which they could claim an outright victory.
Also read: ICC Champions Trophy 2025: Mitchell Marsh gives Australia the biggest dent
Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane dismissed on nervous nineties
- Cheteshwar Pujara dismissed for 99 runs.
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) January 31, 2025
- Ajinkya Rahane dismissed for 96 runs.
Two Legends of Indian cricket missed out well deserving Hundreds in Ranji Trophy ⭐ pic.twitter.com/beg7bVhtGi
Cheteshwar Pujara was just one run short of a hundred when he was dismissed by Assam's Mukhtar Hussain in this innings. He came in to bat at No. 3 and batted excellently at his hometown Rajkot.
The 37-year-old veteran started his innings positively and was solid throughout the innings. He was stubborn at the crease and looked determined to get a big score this time. He formed important partnerships with Harvik Desai and Sheldon Jackson to take Saurashtra to a position of strength.
As it seemed like he would reach his 67th first-class hundred, Pujara was dismissed just one run short of the three-figure mark. Nevertheless, it was an excellent knock as Pujara scored 99 off 167 balls. He struck 10 fours during his knock.
Ajinkya Rahane misses out on a magnificent century
Just like Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane too batted well but missed out on his hundred. Rahane was dismissed by Meghalaya's pacer Nafees Siddique for 96 off 177 balls. His innings was laced with 11 fours and 1 six.
While he was unable to complete his hundred, Rahane played brilliantly during this knock. He finished Day 1 on 83* and looked on track to complete his 41st first-class century. But he fell just four runs short of the landmark.
Rahane made full use of the inexperienced bowling from Meghalaya as he helped Mumbai come back strongly after the shocking defeat to Jammu & Kashmir in the last match. The 36-year-old led his team from the front as he stitched a marathon partnership of 196 runs with Siddhesh Lad to put Mumbai in command.
Big Test players for India
Both Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane have served Indian cricket for a long time and were an important part of the team at one point. However, they were dropped from the team after a prolonged period of poor form.
While Pujara has played over 100 Tests, Rahane has played 85 Tests for India so far. Both of them have been active players in the Ranji Trophy and are very hopeful to make a comeback in the Test team.
Pujara has scored 7195 runs in 103 Tests at an average of 43.60 with 19 hundreds so far. He has been India's preferred No. 3 in the red-ball format for several years.
On the other hand, Rahane has played 85 Tests and scored 5077 runs at an average of 38.46 with 12 hundreds. His last Test was against West Indies in July 2023.
