Ajinkya Rahane’s struggles with the bat since the 2020/21 season have been a big talking point. He only averages 24.39 since the New Zealand tour (in 2020) and has breached the three-figure mark once since then. Rahane did score 268 runs on the Australia tour but has been out-of-form in 2021.

The senior batsman only averaged 18.66 for his 112 runs in the home series against England earlier this year. In the four Test matches against the Three Lions in the UK, he scored only scored 109 runs in 4 matches.

Rahane probably had the best opportunity to return to form in the opening Test against NZ in Kanpur but managed a tally of 39 runs. He missed the 2nd Test due to an injury.

His below-run since the start of 2020 can possibly see him being on the bench for the opening Test match against South Africa, which kicks off on December 26.

Before the selectors announce the squad for the much-awaited series, former New Zealand pacer Simon Doull has asked for a call to be taken on Rahane. Speaking to Star Sports, Doull opined that Rahane’s time has passed and he picked Shreyas Iyer as his replacement.

Iyer made his Test debut in the opening game of the two-match series against NZ in Kanpur and scored a century in the first innings. He followed up with a score of 65 in the 2nd innings.

“I know Rahane is a champion human being, I know he is a huge part of this setup and part of the leadership group. But players with far better numbers over 29 innings have been dropped from this team. I know he has got a good record overseas but his time seems to have passed,” Doull told Star Sports.

“If (Rahane) was averaging 34 or 35 in the last 29 innings with a couple of centuries, I would have said keep him in the squad. But when you are averaging 24 with one century in 29 innings, I just don’t think that’s good enough. From the standards that India set, these numbers are well and truly below par and the time has come to bring in a young player. I know it’s a tough introduction, but I think I will run with Shreyas Iyer.”

A part of the leadership group, Rahane is expected to keep his place in the squad but might struggle to break in the final XI. As for Iyer, he is likely to play the opening Test.

India’s tour of South Africa includes 3 Tests and as many ODIs. The squad for the series will be announced soon.