Sunil Gavaskar, a former India captain, believes that both Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane will be withdrawn from the team for the upcoming Test series against Sri Lanka and that two slots in the playing XI will be obtainable.
Following the end of the South Africa Tests, Virat Kohli's India will meet Sri Lanka in the longer format of the game in late February.
Pujara and Rahane, who have had a poor performance in the ongoing Tests against the Quality needed, could be dropped for the Sri Lanka series, with Shubman Gill, Shreyas Iyer, and Hanuma Vihari making a long line for the middle order.
"Not just Ajinkya Rahane, I believe (won't be in the team). In the Test series against New Zealand, Shreyas Iyer was given a chance and hit a well-crafted century. Because he played well throughout the series, I feel there will be two openings in the XI "On the third day of the third Test in Cape Town, Gavaskar stated.
"Both Pujara and Rahane, I believe, will be benched for the Sri Lanka series. Both Iyer and Vihari will take the field. We'll have to wait and see who plays at number three. We'll have to wait and see if Hanuma Vihari replaces Pujara and Shreyas Iyer replaces Rahane at No. 5. However, I believe there will surely be two spots up for grabs in the match against Sri Lanka "Added Gavaskar.
Kohli has already put his trust in Pujara and Rahane, stating that their "experience is valuable," yet their figures are far too ineffective.