Rahane & Pujara To Get Longer Ropes, Vihari & Iyer Might Have To Wait For Regular Chances

Despite average performances in the ongoing Test series against South Africa, veteran batsmen Ajinkya Rahane and Cheteshwar Puajara are likely to get longer ropes.

Indian team’s coach Rahul Dravid never believed in ‘rocking the boat’ theory and is certainly not going to change the template of the Indian batting order. As per his indications, the wait for promising Hanuma Vihari and emerging Shreyas Iyer for regular chances in the Indian Test team will get a tad longer.

Vihari, who is known as Indian cricket’s ‘Tough Runs Man’ has never got easy chances to be included in the Indian team as he has played only one of his 13 Tests at home.

Dravid was lavish in his praise for Vihari for his gritty show in the second Test against South Africa. He also hailed Iyer as another strong middle order contender. However, The Wall made it pretty clear that both the players will not be preferred over and above a Rahane or a Pujara in the set-up with Kohli set to comeback in the next game.

“Iyer and Vihari have just got to take heart from the fact that whenever they are getting opportunities, they are doing well and hopefully their time would come,” said Dravid.

In fact, the former India Captain cited examples during his playing days when the middle-order was jam-packed with world class batsmen and guys like Kohli, Pujara and Rahane had to wait for a year or two before being regulars in the Test team.

“The youngsters have also to wait for their time and also have to score a lot of runs at the start of their careers to move into the next level,” said Dravid who has the transition phase of the team in mind, but it will obviously come at its own pace.