Indian middle-order in the longest format of the game is struggling at the moment and the major reason responsible for this is Trio including the likes of Pujara, Kohli, and Rahane where Indian skipper managed to score 42 runs however other two failed to score 1 and 9 runs respectively in the first innings at Lords against England.
It is speculated that Rahane and Pujara might be dropped from the third Test if they fail again in the second innings at Lords. Whereas Kohli being a skipper will continue but he also needs to find his form quickly.
Reacting on the same, Former India batsman Sunil Gavaskar said that even if these two batsman gets dropped for the upcoming Test match they will not make much scene out of it and will take it positively as both these batsman knows that they are going through rough form at the moment.
“Rahane was the highest run-scorer for India at the WTC final with 49. So, nobody else has scored runs in this period, to be honest, but questions have been asked only about two cricketers. They are low-profile cricketers. They are not going to rip their shirt off and create a scene (if they are dropped),” Gavaskar said.
Gavaskar also lashed out at team management for not working on technical aspects of Pujara as the ace batsman is facing problems on the balls outside off the stump that should have been rectified ahead of England series.
“Just let Ajinkya Rahane play. Yes, if he does not score runs here there is cause for concern but that cause for concern has to be regarding his technical abilities, with Pujara as well. The way he has got out in Australia playing down the wrong, being beaten by the outswinger nothing has changed as far as that is concerned.
“Who is the one to take care of it? There’s a staff there. If you are getting out in the same manner, then there is something wrong not just with your technique but also the guys who are supposed to help you,” he added.
Rahane led India superbly in last Australia tour where he also scored 100 at Melbourne Test in testing conditions but since then has has been struggling with the form.
