Ajinkya Rahane or Cheteshwar Pujara... Who will they drop?

Ajinkya Rahane and Cheteshwar Pujara

Selection headaches are painful, but healthy, like the one new coach Rahul Dravid is set to encounter for Friday's second and final Test between India and New Zealand at Wankhede Stadium.

The Indian team management may have to make the tough decision of dropping either Cheteshwar Pujara or captain of the first Test, Ajinkya Rahane with skipper Virat Kohli set to rejoin the team for the second and final Test. And the major cause of this selection headache is Shreyas Iyer's phenomenal debut performance at Kanpur, where he scored 105 and 65.

Lack of runs

With Kohli back in the mix, the axe undoubtedly hangs on Pujara, who scored just 26 and 22 at Kanpur and Rahane, who had scores of 35 and 4, will be vice-captain.
Both Pujara and Rahane have been under scrutiny for some time now as their runs have dried up. While Pujara is yet to score a century since 2019, Rahane is averaging 19.57 in 12 Tests this year with just two half centuries under his belt.

S Madan Lal and Lalchand Rajput

S Madan Lal, 1983 World Cup-winning member and former India coach, felt that the team management will have to drop a senior batsman. "The final decision will be taken only after looking at the conditions in Mumbai, but Rahane or Pujara will have to sit out. Both have been in poor form.

"This is not about junior or senior players. It's all about the team and whatever is in the best interests of the team should be done. Pujara has the ability to play longer. He can play for hours and that can tire bowlers. So, having a batsman like him in your line-up is always an advantage. So, I feel Rahane should be dropped," Madan Lal told mid-day from New Delhi on Tuesday.

India's T20 World Cup-winning manager, Lalchand Rajput felt that both Rahane and Pujara will be handy on the South Africa tour that commences after the New Zealand series.

"Dropping them [Pujara and Rahane] won't be a good option as it can hamper their confidence for an important tour like South Africa. Yes, they are going through a lean patch, but they are proven performers. [Opener] Mayank Agarwal is unlikely to get a game on the South Africa tour, so he can be dropped for the Wankhede Test.

‘Drop Mayank Agarwal'

"Either Wriddhiman Saha or Pujara can open the innings with Shubman Gill. Saha scored a fighting 61 not out in the second innings at Kanpur, and Pujara being the No. 3 batsman, anyway has the mindset of an opener if an early wicket falls," Rajput said.