For Indian batsmen Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane the third Test against South Africa has not been a significant one. In the second innings, Indian team needed a solid partnership to register a formidable target for the Proteas. But Pujara managed to score nine runs and Rahane on the other hand, scored just a single run. Indian wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant scored a century and set up a target of 212 runs for the South African team to chase.
Poor form
Both Pujara and Rahane have been under the scanner for some time after their ordinary run of form showed no signs of ending. In the first innings of the third Test Pujara scored 43 and Rahane managed to notch just 9 runs.
Critics have even stated the two batsmen should be dropped immediately and Shreyas Iyer and Hanuma Vihari should be included in the squad.
Former India skipper Sunil Gavaskar spoke on this matter while he was on air and said that he feels there will be “two vacant places” in the Indian team. According to the former opening batsman, Iyer will be in the squad after scoring a “well-crafted century” against New Zealand in the Test series that was played in India.
“I think that not just Ajinkya Rahane (will be out of the team). Shreyas Iyer got an opportunity in the Test series against New Zealand and he scored a well-crafted century. He scored decent runs throughout the series, so I believe there will be two vacant places in the XI,” Gavaskar was quoted while he was on air.
Vihari at number three
Gavaskar also opened up on the issue of the possible replacement for the number three spot. According to the former India skipper, Vihari might bat at number three and Iyer can bat at number five.
“I think both Pujara and Rahane will be dropped from the team for the Sri Lanka series. Iyer and Vihari will both play. We’ll have to see who plays at no.3. Hanuma Vihari may take Pujara’s place and Shreyas Iyer could be no.5 in place of Rahane, but we will have to see. Nevertheless, I think there will certainly be two spots up for grabs against Sri Lanka,” Gavaskar explained.
