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Were Ajinkya Rahane, Cheteshwar Pujara Wronged By Selectors? Sourav Ganguly Pours Insights

image-lpp11cn7End of the road for Rahane and Pujara? (Twitter)

Sourav Ganguly expressed gratitude towards Ajinkya Rahane and Cheteshwar Pujara for their services to Indian Test cricket but also backed the selector's decision to leave them out for the upcoming two-match series in South Africa. 

In a graceful remark made on the two middle-order giants of Indian cricket, for whom the snub for the Proteas challenge seems to be the end of the road after a prolonged dip in consistency and run-making, Ganguly said at some point the selectors were bound to move on to the younger talents. 

Since the beginning of January 2019, Pujara and Rahane are averaging a disappointing 32.70 and 34.19 from their previous 36 and 30 Tests, respectively, failing to overcome the relentless bowling and difficult conditions designed home and away by teams in the World Test Championship (WTC) era. 

While Pujara last turned up in the final of the WTC 2021-23 cycle at The Oval against Australia in June, Rahane, who was dropped for close to 18 months after the previous trip to South Africa in 2021-22 but made his comeback for the same finale amidst injuries, only travelled for the following tour to the Caribbean since new middle-order incumbents Shreyas Iyer and Rishabh Pant had still not recovered. 


Ganguly On Rahane, Pujara's Test Absence 

Even though sadly Pant remains sidelined due to his persistent rehab from a car accident, Iyer has recovered from his back injury struggles and will be taking the Rahane slot at No.5. Shubman Gill, who batted No.3 in West Indies in July in Pujara's absence, will stay put there for the South Africa series. 

The selectors have also brought back KL Rahul as a Test wicketkeeper-batter and handed a nod of encouragement to promising youngster Ruturaj Gaikwad after successful and consistent domestic showings. 

"At some point in time, you have to play with new talents. It happens; there is enormous talent in India, and the team has to progress. Pujara and Rahane had enormous success for India; sport doesn't remain with you forever," Ganguly was quoted as saying by NDTV. 

In their prime, both Pujara and Rahane were integral to India's Test match success as the dependable assets at No.3 and No.5. Ganguly, who was BCCI president from 2019-2022, thanked the two stalwarts for their contribution to India's Test match triumphs. 

"You cannot be there forever; it will happen to everyone. I must thank them for what they have done for Indian cricket, and selectors want fresh faces, so that's the way it is," he added.