Rahane, Pujara and Kohli’s Era ending in test matches for India.

• Last three years stats of Rahane.
• Last three years stats of Pujara, and the Last three years statistics of Kohli.

Horror day for India in 3rd test match vs England. India is all out for 78runs. This is the second time in overseas series India collapse below 100. This rarely happened before, but now it happened in two constant overseas series. 

We feel such collapse is happening due to the poor performance of top batsmen like Kohli and Dependable Pujara, who are totally out of form. Pujara’s footwork is nowhere clearly. Lack of confidence and lack of cricketing shots is now becoming a reason for his downfall. Rahane, too, played only a few knocks, but he has failed miserably in the test matches last three years. 

Let’s see the last three years performance of all the top batsman of INDIA – Kohli, Pujara and Rahane. 

Virat Kohli:

From 2019 to 2021, Captain Kohli played 19 test matches with an average of around 30 to 35. Scored only 1000runs out of that one inning. If you take out of 254runs, King Kohli of India is no more a king in test matches. He is failed to score in the last three years.

Kohli average in the last 11 test matches is the lowest. Yes, Kohli averages 22 scored only 400 odd runs. But, being a captain, he is not leading by example. His poor performance is giving an advantage to Rohit Sharma, the only batsman in the team who is performing at the top level in the last three years in all formats. 

Rohit Sharma averages around 60 in the last 24 test matches. He is the highest run-scorer in all the formats for India. 

Mr Dependable Pujara, who is no more an Indian Wall:

Pujara is out of form for the last three years. Not a single big inning he has played for India. His footwork is nowhere. It shows a lack of confidence. He is not coming forward, not going back. He is set in a trap where he is not able to play shots and score big. 

From 2018 to 2021, Pujara played 36 test matches; his average is around 30 to 32. So he and rahane are now becoming a burden for India. No doubt he has the class, but we feel he needs a break to focus more on batting. 

He played 36 test matches, and scoring only 1100runs doesn’t justify his place in the team. In the last two years, he played 25 test matches, averages only 22 scored only 600runs in 25 test matches. Well, for many, 25 test matches is a career.

Ajinkya Rahane:

Ajinkya Rahane played 45 test matches from 2017. His selection is now becoming a big question. Rahane averages only 30 to 35 only because in 2019; he played few good knocks against Aussies. In 2019 his average was 71, but he does not justify his place in the team if you see the last five years stats. 

Many good talents in India are not getting a chance in the team due to Rahane. Last 14 test matches, Rahane averages 26 that too, due to one hundred. If you take one hundred and one fifty out of 25innings, his average goes down to 20 or below. Well, a player who is playing test matches brings questions to mind. 

Pujara and Rahane are undoubtedly classic batsmen, but their performance doesn’t justify their place in the team. They both are specialist test matches batsmen but performing like tailenders for the past three years now. Kohli, too is not at his best. Pocking the ball outside off is becoming the biggest downfall reason in test matches. 

Indian top-order lacking temperament, which is needed in test matches. Surely India needs to find some good talent who can fill up the shoes of Pujara and Rahane. Because way they are playing, we don’t feel they will continue to play for long. 

Many good players like Agarwal, Prithvi and Suryakumar Yadav are waiting to play for India. So Sharma can come down to the middle order can make a place for one batsman in the team, and we can see something new or give a chance to young age batsman who can play long for India. Also you can read about India beat in 2nd test match.