Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane's omission for Sri Lanka Test series was expected: Sunil Gavaskar

Sunil Gavaskar is not surprised with the non-selection of senior batters Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane in the squad for two Tests against Sri Lanka, terming it 'expected'. On Saturday, Pujara and Rahane, along with pacer Ishant Sharma and wicketkeeper-batter Wriddhiman Saha, didn't find themselves in the squad for the Test series against Sri Lanka in March. Amidst the chatter of a possible transition phase starting in the Test side, the exclusion of Pujara and Rahane seems to be the first step towards it.

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Gavaskar, speaking on Sports Tak, wasn't surprised by the move. In the Test series against South Africa, Rahane made just 136 runs in six innings while Pujara scored just 124 runs in as many innings. "This (Pujara, Rahane not there) was expected because in the three Test matches they played in South Africa, if they scored a century or someone scored knocks of 80-90, then it would have been a different story. Yes, Ajinkya Rahane scored a half-century (at Johannesburg) but apart from that, not many runs were scored when runs were expected of them." As of now, Rahane and Pujara will continue to take part in the ongoing Ranji Trophy for their respective sides Mumbai and Saurashtra. Gavaskar was hopeful of them scoring runs to force their way back into the Test team. But at the same time, he admitted that the road to return will be 'difficult'.

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