"Their Chapter Is Closed": Ex-India Star's Harsh Verdict On Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane's Test Career

Former Indian opener Aakash Chopra said on Saturday that doors to the Test team for veteran middle-order batters Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane are closed but with the former's Indian Premier League (IPL) career still alive, he will be relevant for a longer time as he plays in the league for Chennai Super Kings (CSK), captained by MS Dhoni. The Men's Selection Committee on Friday announced India's 16-member squad for the first two Tests against England. India are set to play a five-match Test series, the first of which will be held in Hyderabad on January 25.

The series will conclude on March 11. Rahane and Pujara have not been selected for the series.

On his YouTube channel, Chopra said, "The squad is along the expected lines. We had expected Ajinkya Rahane and Cheteshwar Pujara not to be there. I feel that chapter is closed. If you did not pick them in South Africa, that was the last opportunity to pick them. If you did not pick them there, you are not going back to them."

"Ajinkya Rahane's IPL career is alive, so he will stay relevant a little more because you become a part of the conversation whenever you do well in the IPL. It is not important to play in Chennai. Playing for Chennai is important because Dhoni is there," added Chopra.

Pujara and Rahane were the backbone of Indian middle-order batting from the early 2010s to the early 2020s. Pujara represented India in 103 Tests, scoring 7,195 runs at an average of 43.60, with 19 centuries and 35 fifties in 176 innings. His best score is 206*. Pujara has also played five ODIs for India.

Rahane has also played 85 Tests for India, scoring 5,077 runs at an average of 38.46, with 12 centuries and 26 fifties in 144 innings. His best score is 188.

However, since