Not my job: Virat Kohli refrains from discussing Pujara, Rahane future after Test sequence loss in South Africa

India captain Virat Kohli on Saturday mentioned it is not his job to debate the way forward for Ajinkya Rahane and Cheteshwar Pujara after the 2 senior batters didn’t step up of their 2-1 defeat to South Africa in a hard-fought Test sequence. Kohli mentioned India continued to again the 2 senior batters based mostly on what they’ve performed for India over time and highlighted that they chipped in with essential contributions.

Speaking to the press after the Test sequence defeat at Newlands on Saturday, Virat Kohli conceded that the batters did not step up after the series-opening victory in Centurion however mentioned it is not proper on his half to touch upon the futures of Rahane and Pujara.Cape Town Test, Day 4: HighlightsQuestions had been requested of Rahane and Pujara’s locations within the aspect even earlier than the beginning of the tour of South Africa. In truth, Rahane misplaced his position as vice-captain forward of the beginning of the sequence however the workforce administration backed the senior duo in abroad situations in South Africa.”We need to step up with the bat. There is no running away from that. To answer this question, I can’t sit here and talk about what’s going to happen in the future. That’s not for me to sit here and discuss. You have to speak to the selectors to find out what they have in mind, that’s not my job,” Virat Kohli mentioned.”As I said before and I will say again, we have continued to back Cheteshwarand Ajinkya because of the kind of players they are and what they have done in Test cricket over the years. They have done well in crucial situations, you saw that in the 2nd Test as well with that important partnership in the 2nd innings which got us to a total that we could fight for,” he added.”These are the kind of performances that we recognise as a team. What the selectors have in mind and what they decide to do, I obviously can’t comment on that at this moment, sitting here.”Rahane chipped in with an important 48 and 20 within the first Test as India defeated South Africa by 113 runs in Centurion. The senior professional although struggled for consistency, getting out for nought within the first innings of the Johannesburg Test earlier than stepping up with a fifty within the 2nd innings in a hundred-plus stand with Pujara.In the third Test, the 2 senior batters failed within the essential 2nd innings as India managed simply 198 on the board regardless of a surprising hundred from Rishabh Pant.While Rahane managed 136 runs in 3 Tests, Pujara hit 124 in 3 Tests as India’s batting unit let the workforce down within the final two Tests because the guests missed out on what was a wonderful alternative to win their first-ever Test sequence victory in South Africa.India’s bating has come underneath the scanner as soon as once more as openers KL Rahul and Mayank Agarwal had been abnormal after their heroic knocks within the first Test. The lower-middle order comprising of R Ashwin and Shardul Thakur failed so as to add to the workforce’s tally constantly as India paid the value for opting to go in with a 5-bowler assault.India managed to set targets of 223 and 212 within the final two Tests as Dean Elgar’s steely South African aspect chased them down with 7 wickets to spare on each events.