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Xtra Time Web Desk : Team India on Thursday lost the second Test of the 3 match series to the Proteas by 7 wickets. The Indian bowlers were absolutely off colour in what was just the fourth day of the Johannesburg Test.

But despite being the losing side, what stood out for Team India was the 111 run stand between two middle order veterans in Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane. Both Rahane and Pujara looked in sublime touch in the second innings as they comfortably went past their personal half centuries quite comfortably. The superb partnership between these two batters which was appreciated by stalwarts of the game came after both of them passed through a lean period for quite a while. And now, the legendary Sunil Gavaskar has become the latest name to come out publicly in support of Pujara and Rahane.

In an interview with Star Sports, the former Team India captain said, "The team has backed them because of the experience and what they have done in the past. They had the belief that they will come good and they did. Sometimes we can be a little bit hard on some of our senior players because you have these exciting young players waiting in the wings and we all want to see them get a bit of exposure. But as long as these senior players are playing well and not getting out badly, then I think we should show faith in them."

Now, with their performance in the Johannesburg Test and the backing of legendary cricketers like Sunil Gavaskar, it would be intriguing to see how Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane perfrom in order to resurrect their Test careers.