Rahane and Pujara have been given enough chances, they wouldn’t be surprised if dropped now: Gautam Gambhir

Despite being expected to beat South Africa in the three-match Test series, India went on to shockingly lose it. The fact that the visitors had a batting collapse in both, the second Test, as well as the third, didn't sit well with the experts and fans.

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Moreover, this was a golden opportunity for the Asian side to win a Test series in the rainbow nation. As Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane were consistently inconsistent throughout the series, many experts have called for them to be dropped from the side. Gautam Gambhir too felt that the two veteran Indian batters need to be omitted from the XI.

The former Indian opener stated that the two players have already been given a long rope. He also cited the fact that Hanuma Vihari, who has been fairly decent in the recent past, is already 28.

Both Rahane and Pujara know that they have been given enough chances: Gautam Gambhir

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"Pujara and Rahane have received enough support, there are no two ways about it. The team management has backed the pair to the core. But you also need to see that Vihari is 28 years old," Gautam Gambhir said while speaking on Star Sports. The 40-year-old also pointed out the fact that players like Shreyas Iyer and Shubhman Gill have already shown their potential.

"You've to back him now before he fades away. Same with Shreyas Iyer, who has already shown his potential with a century in Kanpur. Shubman Gill is also a bright prospect. Both Rahane and Pujara know that they have been given enough chances and they wouldn’t be surprised if they get dropped from the next series," he added.

It is to be noted that while Shreyas Iyer scored a hundred during his Test debut against New Zealand, Hanuma Vihari was superb during the India A tour to South Africa. Besides, he scored a 40 in the third innings of the Johannesburg Test. Moreover, Pujara and Rahane have had a torrid time in the last 12-15 months.