South Africa and India will play the 3rd Test in Cape Town from January 11.
Pujara and Rahane have been under fire for quite some time, given their barren run with the bat. Pujara has not scored a Test century since SCG 2019, while Rahane has scored just one century since the start of 2020.
However, both have stitched valuable partnerships when India needed some runs from the experienced batters. They added more than 100 runs at Lord’s in the second Test of the 2021 series against England, which helped India win the match. Then the duo quick-fire 111-run partnership was crucial to India challenging for a victory in the second Test in Johannesburg.
"I can't pinpoint when we will have those conversations," Kohli told reporters on Monday on the eve of the decisive third Test against South Africa.
SA v IND 2021-22: Virat Kohli declares himself fit for Cape Town Test; Mohammed Siraj ruled out
"Transitions happen naturally, it cannot be forced by individuals. The way Ajinkya and Pujara batted in the second innings, that experience is priceless for us, especially in these kinds of series. These guys have done the job in the past when you are playing overseas in tough conditions, these guys always step up with impact performances. We saw that in Australia as well and now in the last Test,” he said.
"Transitions happen but they happen naturally and a conversation cannot be forced on it is what I have experienced and felt. When the transition has to happen, everyone knows in which direction the team is moving so we should leave the transition to unfold by itself and not necessarily force individuals in difficult situations," said Kohli.
Virat Kohli will return to the Indian XI for the third Test match in Cape Town which will decide the fate of the series which stands 1-1.
(ANI inputs)