Team India batting coach Vikram Rathour has backed “senior cricketers” Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane and believes they will soon bounce back. However, he didn’t comment on if they will be retained or dropped from the playing XI for the next Test against New Zealand as well.
Pujara has scored 26 and 22 in both innings of the first Test in Kanpur whereas stand-in captain Rahane made 35 and 4 which left many wondering whether they will be in the playing XI for the second Test or not.
“Of course we want our top order to contribute, but the cricketers you mentioned have played 80 and 90 Test matches so they have the experience. Of course to play that many games they must have done well for us. I understand both of them are going through a lean phase but they have played very very important knocks for us in the past, and we are pretty sure they will come back and play more important knocks for our team in the future as well,” Vikram Rathour said on Sunday.
We are really focused on this game – Vikram Rathour
Notably, Ajinkya Rahane has scored just a solitary hundred since October 2019 and his career average is below 40 now. On the other hand, Pujara hasn’t hit a century since January 2019 as well. However, the coach has said that it will be decided later after they reach Mumbai next week.
“I don’t think we can put a number to that. That really depends on the situation the team is in, and what the team requires. The captain coming back in will happen in Mumbai, I understand. We will get to that point when we reach Mumbai. At this point we are focused on this game. There is still a day to go, and a game to be won. So we are really focused on this game,” Vikram Rathour again shared.
After restricting New Zealand within 296 in response to their 345, India posted 234 for 7 before declaring in the final session on Day 4 as well. Shreyas Iyer (65) and Wriddhiman Saha (61 not out) stood strong alongside Ravichandran Ashwin, who scored 32 runs.
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