‘Enough Is Enough’: Rahane, Pujara Fail In 3rd Test & Fans Feel Their Time Is Over

Not everyone in Indian cricket gets a long rope despite a string of low scores like the duo of Ajinkya Rahane and Cheteshwar Pujara have been getting. 

We have seen the likes of legends like Yuvraj Singh and Virender Sehwag being dropped by the selectors due to poor form but that doesn’t seem to be the case with the current selectors and team management.

Both Pujara and Rahane have played six innings each in the ongoing tour of South Africa and have scored 124 and 136 runs, respectively.

India’s lead crosses the 50-run mark!

With Ajinkya Rahane and Cheteshwar Pujara at the crease, how many runs will the visitors add in this session?#WTC23 | #ENGvIND | https://t.co/rhWT865o91 pic.twitter.com/FlZzc9x16A

— ICC (@ICC) August 15, 2021

The duo, who was already under fire for not performing, had the chance to shut their critics with a match-winning knock in the third Test in Cape Town. However, the start of Day 3 of the Test saw Pujara lose his wicket on the second ball of the day and Rahane too followed suit in the very next over. 

The dismal batting performance of the duo saw a lot of reactions from fans on social media and most of them had only one thing to say ‘enough is enough’. 

Thank you pujara n rahane for your services ,we will not #pujara #AjinkyaRahane #INDvsSA pic.twitter.com/qf7BkFXUu5

— Kanik Sharma (@Rubinik_1611) January 13, 2022

Enough is enough. India need to move on now from #pujara #rahane

— Rahul Gupta (@grahul3011) January 13, 2022

It will be harsh on Shreyas and Gill if India continue to keep their faith in Pujara and Rahane for the Sri Lanka series. If the rope is still long, time to take a knife and cut it. Time to rebuild.

— Venkata Krishna B (@venkatatweets) January 13, 2022

Happy Retirement Ajinkya Rahane & Cheteshwar Pujara #Purane #Rahane #SAvsIND #INDvSA pic.twitter.com/NO2tuWKd3R

— CRICKET VIDEOS (@AbdullahNeaz) January 13, 2022

List of reasons why Ajinkya Rahane should play next test series. #INDvsSA #PURANE pic.twitter.com/wWoy2ppdht

— Positive Entropy (@EntropyPositive) January 13, 2022

Expectation. Reality #INDvsSA #purane pic.twitter.com/ze6zD3VYma

— s. (@VkRightarmquick) January 13, 2022

When Pujara/Rahane plays, every delievery seems to be ball of the century

— flick_18 (@kohli_ftw) January 13, 2022

This is awfully frustrating for Team India. It is like playing with 2 batsmen short. #Pujara and #Rahane have been given a very very long rope by the Selectors. Time for them to go. #INDvsSA

— Sumanth Raman (@sumanthraman) January 13, 2022

With captain Virat Kohli returning to the playing XI, India persisted with Rahane in the middle-order and dropped Hanuma Vihari even after the latter impressed one and all in the second Test. 

Rahane registered scores of nine and one in two innings of the series decider. On the other hand, Pujara after contributing with a knock of 43 in the first innings, fell for nine in the second essay. 

Disappointed with the result.
Looking forward to the decider in cape town. pic.twitter.com/RcfZ8K4H8F

— Hanuma vihari (@Hanumavihari) January 7, 2022

Apart from Vihari, there is Shreyas Iyer as well waiting in the wings for a spot in the Indian Test team’s middle-order. Iyer started his Test career with a century and a half-ton in his debut game but the team went for experience in the Rainbow nation but with what we have seen on this tour, the decision backfired. 

Rahane and Pujara’s failure with the bat left India in a spot of bother but captain Kohli and wicket-keeper Rishabh Pant steadied the ship. 

Drinks in Cape Town

India have arrested the slide, with Pant and Kohli taking the lead past the 100-run mark amid scintillating bowling.

Riveting Test cricket.

Watch #SAvIND live on https://t.co/CPDKNxpgZ3 (in select regions)#WTC23 | https://t.co/Wbb1FE2mW1 pic.twitter.com/4rqOurWvh6

— ICC (@ICC) January 13, 2022

It is now down to Kohli, once again, to take India’s total to a stage where their bowlers can feel confident enough of bundling out the Proteas and registering the first-ever Test series win in South Africa.