Ajinkya Rahane and Cheteshwar Pujara bat for their cricketing lives

Ajinkya Rahane walked out to join Cheteshwar Pujara in the 12th over of India’s 2nd innings in the 2nd test match between India and South Africa at the Wanderers. India, having conceded a lead of 27 runs in the 1st innings, were 44 for the loss of 2 of their 5 specialist batsmen. Both grizzled veterans, 33 years old, with more than 80 matches played by each, and more than 11,500 test runs between them seemed resolute to bring India back into the match. 

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Pujara, having come 1 down, played with uncharacteristic aggression – hitting 35 runs off 42 balls by the close. Some of these shots were his trademark drives where he seemed in total control. Some of them lacked any control and seemed born of desperation to contribute while he survived on this challenging wicket. Rahane, in contrast, seemed to hop and skip at balls spitting at him from a good length on this bouncy pitch and just about hang on and survive till stumps, scoring 11 runs. Missing were the fluid, well-timed shots Rahane has been known for throughout his career. Survival was the goal, and that goal was accomplished, barely. Together, Pujara and Rahane pulled India back into the match somewhat by the end of the day’s play – 85/2, 58 runs ahead. A tough journey lies ahead. India will not feel comfortable without a lead of 230-250, which seems really far away. 

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Adding to the intrigue is that both batsmen are not only fighting to win the match, but also to save their place in the side. 

Pujara boasts a respectable test average of 44, but his batting returns over the past two years have been paltry. In 2021, he averaged 34. In 2020, just 27. This has been an extended lean patch. The selectors have persisted with him through this run, but times have changed recently. The head coach is now Rahul Dravid, the very man who’s “wall” sized void he has filled in the test side for many years. The selectors seem to have found a strong voice under the new Saurav Ganguly led BCCI regime, having already dispensed with the captaincy of Virat Kohli in the white ball game. 

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At 33 years old, it would seem that Pujara has a couple of years left before he’s gently nudged out the door. But Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli will return at some point, KL Rahul’s spot seems assured and India will play at least one additional specialist opener. Mayank Agarwal and Shubhman Gill own the inside track to that spot. India play with 5 batsmen these days, so that’s 4 out of the 5 spots accounted for already. In the wings lie waiting the likes of Shreyas Iyer, Hanuma Vihari, Prithwi Shaw, Ishan Kishan and Sanju Samson. Part of the reason Rahul Dravid was elevated to the position of head coach was the experience he brought in with India’s youngsters. He previously headed the National Cricket Academy, and before that was the coach of India’s under 19 and “A” teams. At some point, he’ll be excited to blood some youngsters into the test side. 

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Rahane’s situation would seem even more perilous. He averages 39 overall, with 2020 having fetched him runs at 39 after a couple of good performances. In 2021 he averaged just 21. It looks like he’s already lost the test vice captaincy for good. Even after Rohit Sharma missed the test series through injury the vice captaincy was handed to Jasprit Bumrah. Rahane lasted all of one ball in the first innings at the Wanderers. With Kohli set to return in the next match, this might well be his last chance to convince the selectors to retain him over Hanuma Vihari for the third test. His white ball cricket journey seems to still have some legs but this innings could be his last attempt to lengthen his test career. 

If this partnership is to be the last time we see Rahane and Pujara together, lets enjoy it and hope they make it as memorable as their careers have been. Tune into the match at 1:30 PM IST tomorrow, January 5th for what promises to be an unforgettable day’s cricket.