"I don’t see them coming back"- Ajay Jadeja on Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane future in Indian team

Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane were dropped for Sri Lanka Tests.

Chesteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane | GETTY

Former India cricketer Ajay Jadeja believes that despite getting unfairly dropped from the Test team, he doesn't see both Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane making a comeback into the Indian team.

The BCCI recently announced the Indian squad for the upcoming two Tests against Sri Lanka at home and veteran players like Pujara, Rahane, Ishant Sharma, and Wriddhiman Saha were missing from the list.

In an interview with Cricbuzz, Jadeja first stated that it was unfair for them to be dropped after just one series loss (in South Africa).

“It is sad. If it was done a year and a half ago, when India were still at the top and winning, I would have backed that decision. Dropping Rahane and Pujara after losing one series is unfair. Then you are singling out these two, and that’s not the way to build sides," said Jadeja.

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The chairman of the BCCI selection committee, Chetan Sharma, stated during the announcement of the team that the doors were not closed for a return for Pujara and Rahane.

Jadeja, on the other hand, believes their time is running out. He said: "Both are single-format players, and when you leave them out of that one format, I don’t see them coming back. I hope I am wrong because these are stalwarts. They have played 80-90 Test matches. There is enough talent that is around. The next generation that has come has pushed them."

He added: “It is a hard one. I don’t think in Indian cricket, over a period of time, many people have had the opportunity to say goodbye the way they wanted. It has always been a sad story.

"That’s how it is going to be. There’s Ajinkya Rahane and Cheteshwar Pujara for the moment. It will be somebody else later, and that’s how it’s always going to roll.”

(Cricbuzz inputs)

 
 

By Khushi Raghuwanshi - 22 Feb, 2022

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