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'Kash Inke Paas Bhi PR Hoti': Rahane-Pujara Spark Comeback Calls With Ranji Trophy Grit

Soumyajit Dutta

Ajinkya Rahane and Cheteshwar Pujara played a commendable knock in Ranji Trophy match [Source: @Sulemannagori23/X.com]Ajinkya Rahane and Cheteshwar Pujara played a commendable knock in Ranji Trophy match [Source: @Sulemannagori23/X.com]

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Veteran batters Ajinkya Rahane and Cheteshwar Pujara came agonizingly close to centuries in the Ranji Trophy 2024-25, reigniting debates about their potential return to India’s Test setup. While Rahane fell for 96 for Mumbai against Meghalaya, Pujara was dismissed for 99 for Saurashtra against Assam.

Pujara’s 167-ball vigil included 10 boundaries and showcased his trademark patience, anchoring Saurashtra to a dominant 361/3 on Day 1. Resuming on 95, he added just four runs before edging behind on 99, narrowly missing his 67th first-class century. 

Ajinkya Rahane, meanwhile, blended caution with aggression during his 177-ball 96 (11 fours, 1 six), steering Mumbai before falling short of a ton. Both knocks, though incomplete, underscored their enduring class in red-ball cricket.

Netizens Call Out BCCI For Rahane And Pujara's Comeback

Rahane and Cheteshwar Pujara were once the backbone of India’s middle order, instrumental in historic overseas wins, including the 2020-21 Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) triumph in Australia. However, prolonged lean patches saw them axed after the 2023 World Test Championship final. 

However, unfortunately, India too had a humiliating defeat in the 2024-25 Border Gavaskar Trophy that saw a terrible batting depth of India which was exposed by the Australian stalwarts on their soil. Sparks of Pujara's comeback call started since then and after Ajinkya and his remarkable knock, social media blazed with their comeback calls for the national team. 

Fans and netizens took to social media to draw parallels between India’s current batting frailties and the duo’s Ranji Trophy exploits. While the BCCI remains focused on blooding youngsters, social media users call out that in Test cricket, experience and temperament still matter. 

Here's a look at how the netizens reacted to the commendable knocks of Ajinkya Rahane and Cheteshwar Pujara:






While Rahane and Pujara’s Ranji Trophy heroics have reignited the comeback conversation, their path back to the Indian Test squad remains an uphill battle. Their fate hinges not just on consistency, but on external factors like team balance, overseas demands, and whether the management values short-term stability over long-term vision.