India's veteran Test batters Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane are all set to get a much-needed opportunity to work on their batting and get back the lost rhythm as they are set to play for the respective state sides in the upcoming Ranji Trophy 2020 in order to revive their Test careers.
Pujara and Rahane have been struggling with the bat for a long time now, and there are chances that they might not get picked for the upcoming two-match Test series against Sri Lanka next month at home.
However, with the home Test series against Sri Lanka to start after the T20I series in March, Pujara and Rahane will get enough time to rediscover their form in the upcoming Ranji Trophy 2022, which is scheduled to start on February 10, 2022.
While the plate group matches of the upcoming first-class tournament will begin on February 10, the elite group games will start on February 16, and both the under-fire batters will get at least two matches to convince the national selectors for the upcoming Sri Lanka Tests.
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Mumbai coach Amol Mujumdar told PTI: “Ajinkya Rahane is definitely looking forward to it. We have met a few times now, he has been practicing with the Mumbai team. He has had about a couple of sessions already. Looked absolutely in fine touch.”
The coach added, “We don't have to look too much into the future but what is lying ahead of us is Ranji Trophy. They both are due for a big one. I feel it is just a question of confidence. Sometimes batting is nothing but confidence. If you can regain that confidence somehow. It will come only if you score a big hundred.”
Meanwhile, Saurashtra coach Niraj Odedra told PTI: “Pujara is not like other batters. He always has a specific plan when he walks into the nets. He is very meticulous in the way he trains. Today he wanted to practice against reverse swing which he may encounter in the Sri Lanka series.”
Notably, the two-match Test series between India and Sri Lanka was earlier to be played before the three-match T20I series, but after Sri Lanka Cricket requested a change to manage players’ smooth bubble-to-bubble transfer.
After much consideration, the BCCI rejigged the schedule with the Test series beginning in the first week of March. The T20I series will start on February 25.
(With PTI Inputs)
