Sunil Gavaskar
Sunil Gavaskar (Image Credit: Twitter)

Legendary Indian batsman Sunil Gavaskar has said that the senior Indian batters Ajinkya Rahane and Cheteshwar Pujara failed to score good runs in Test cricket when the team needed it most.

On Saturday, February 19 the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced the squads for the upcoming three-match T20I series and two-match Test series against Sri Lanka and 4 senior players, including Rahane, Pujara, Wriddhiman Saha and Ishant Sharma were dropped from the Test team.

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Meanwhile, batting legend Gavaskar said it was expected that the senior batters Rahane and Pujara will get dropped after their poor performance in the three-match Test series in the South Africa tour.

“It was expected. If in the three Tests in South Africa, one of them had hit a century or played an innings of 80-90 runs, then it would have been a different matter.

“Yes, Ajinkya Rahane played an attractive knock. But apart from that, there weren’t enough runs from them when it was expected and when the team needed the runs,” Gavaskar told Sports Tak.

They Can Return, Why Not? – Sunil Gavaskar

Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane. Photo- Getty
Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane. Photo- Getty

The former Indian captain also opined that Pujara and Rahane can definitely make a comeback to the Indian Test team if they perform exceedingly well in the Ranji Trophy 2022.

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However, Gavaskar believes that making a return to the Test team would become difficult for the veteran batters if the youngsters perform well in the two-match Test series against Sri Lanka at home.

“They can return, why not? If they display very good form, score 200-250 in every Ranji Trophy match, then a return is definitely possible. But after this Test series, there is just a one-off Test in England and then after that, there is the T20 World Cup, so we will be in November and December (for the subsequent Test).

Sunil Gavaskar, Ajinkya Rahane, Cheteshwar Pujara
(Photo: Twitter)

“So I think time will not be on their side because they will be in their mid-30s. If a chance has been given to youngsters in these two vacant spots — and if those youngsters take this opportunity by their hands — then it will be difficult for them (Pujara and Rahane) to return to the team,” Gavaskar added.

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Sonanchal Gautam is the Assistant Content Manager at Cricketaddictor. He is a professional Wrestling and Hip-hop enthusiast.