“Has the same contribution as Kohli,” former India player furious over veteran batters’ exclusion from South Africa Test series

He also claimed the result of the match was easily predicted after India's performance in their first innings.

“Has the same contribution as Kohli,” former India player furious over veteran batters’ exclusion from South Africa Test series

Indian Test team during WTC Final (Image via ESPNcricinfo)

Former India bowler Harbhajan Singh hit back at the selectors for ignoring the two veteran Test players- Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane. Harbhajan claimed the duo had scored runs everywhere and, despite their playing slowly, they helped the team to at least save the match.

India were hammered by South Africa in the first Test at SuperSport Park in Centurion, with the match getting wrapped up within three days. India lost the match by an innings and 32 runs. Virat Kohli tried to rescue the match with his 76 runs in the second innings, but it went in vain. Harbhajan could not fathom why the management ignored Pujara who, the spinner feels, has contributed to the team the same as Kohli.

YouTube video
You don't select Rahane and Pujara for no reason. They've scored runs everywhere. If you look at the previous record, Pujara has the same contribution as Kohli.
Harbhajan said on his YouTube channel

He added:

I'm clueless as to why Pujara was left out. We don't have a better better than Pujara in Tests. He plays slowly, but he saves you. Because of him, India won Tests in Australia and England.

Harbhajan further said that India never looked like they were in the game when they got bundled out for 245 runs in the first innings. He claimed the result of the match was easily predicted after India’s performance in their first innings.

After Ajinkya Rahane, Cheteshwar Pujara uploads practice video after India’s Test defeat to South Africa

Ajinkya Rahane’s social media post went viral for all the wrong reasons. Fans started thinking he took a dig at captain Rohit Sharma and other players taking rests before the Test series.

Cheteshwar pujara ajinkya rahane
Cheteshwar Pujara (Image via ESPNcricinfo)

He posted his practice video with the captain that said, “No rest days.” And after him, Cheteshwar Pujara also posted his practice video with the caption, “Ranji Trophy prep mode.”

Watch the videos here:

Rahane and Pujara used to regularly feature in the Test team. While Rahane played 85 Tests to score 5077 runs, Pujara recently crossed the three-figure mark and featured in 103 Tests, scoring 7195 runs. Both players last played for India in June this year in the World Test Championships (WTC) Final against Australia.

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