Former Indian cricketer Sunil Gavaskar talked about Ajinkya Rahane and Cheteshwar Pujara getting dropped from the national side. Sunil Gavaskar felt that the writing was on the wall for both of them as they had not scored enough runs in the recent past because of which the two players were dropped.

Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane got dropped together for the first time from a series when BCCI announced India’s squad for the Test series against Sri Lanka. Former Indian cricketer Sunil Gavaskar during an interview was asked to share his thoughts after the two Indian batsmen got dropped following a string of low scores in the recent past. 

Sunil Gavaskar during a chat with Sports Tak said, “It was expected. If in the three Tests in South Africa, one of them had hit a century or played an innings of 80-90 runs, then it would have been a different matter. Yes, Ajinkya Rahane played an attractive knock. But apart from that, there weren’t enough runs from them when it was expected and when the team needed the runs”.

The former Indian cricketer feels that the two can return to the side saying, “They can return, why not? If they display very good form, score 200-250 in every Ranji Trophy match, then a return is definitely possible. But after this Test series, there is just a one-off Test in England and then after that, there is the T20 World Cup, so we will be in November and December (for the subsequent Test)”.

“So I think time will not be on their side because they will be in their mid-30s. If a chance has been given to youngsters in these two vacant spots — and if those youngsters take this opportunity by their hands — then it will be difficult for them (Pujara and Rahane) to return to the team,” Sunil Gavaskar added.