Former Indian captain Mohammad Azharuddin believes that the senior batting duo of Ajinkya Rahane and Cheteshwar Pujara will find it difficult to make a comeback to the Indian Test setup.
It becomes pertinent to mention here that senior batters Rahane and Pujara were dropped from the Indian Test squad along with Wriddhiman Saha and Ishant Sharma ahead of the two-match Test series against Sri Lanka, where India won by 2-0.
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Notably, Hanuma Vihari batted at No.3, which was Pujara’s place in the Test team and Shreyas Iyer played as Ajinkya Rahane’s replacement and he batted brilliantly in the series.
Meanwhile, Azharuddin has said that the only thing that might tilt the scales in Rahane and Pujara’s favour is the experience.
“Rahane and Pujara might find it difficult, the only thing that might tilt the scales in their favour is the experience. But with the advent of Shreyas Iyer and Hanuma Vihari, it’ll be tough. The bench strength is strong. I feel when young players come in, they need to be consistent,” Azharuddin told Sportstar.
“This change of guard is a generational thing. It has happened before. The key is to identify the best players and give them more chances to perform. Do not let the mental pressure of ‘whether I will get another game if I fail’ affect them. Chopping and changing a squad too often is a problem.”
Their bowling attack looks very depleted – Mohammad Azharuddin on Sri Lanka
Former Indian captain drew comparisons between the old and new Sri Lankan team and said that the new Sri Lankan side don’t have depth in the bowling and their bowling attack looks depleted.
“Most players were immensely talented, and they were also vying to compete with the best and show that they belonged at the highest echelons. They won the World Cup in 1996. They had a world-class spinner in Muttiah Muralitharan.
“He was their main wicket-taker; he bowled very positively and was supported beautifully by the likes of Chaminda Vaas. In comparison, their bowling attack looks very depleted now. They don’t have the depth to get a team out twice,” added Azharuddin.
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