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5 reasons why Team India needs Ajinkya Rahane in Test XI

Team India lost the first test match against South Africa by 72 runs. Rohit Sharma was given a chance in the playing XI because of current form. He disappointed in both innings scoring 11 and 10.

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There was no application from the Indian batsmen in seaming conditions. Despite the bowlers doing a great job, the batsmen disappointed scoring 209 and 135 in both innings.

Here we look at the 5 reasons why team India needs Ajinkya Rahane in Test XI

  1. Solid technique
Ajinkya Rahane (Photo Source: DNA /Aadesh Choudhari)

Rahane has a solid technique in overseas conditions. Before this match, the century in the 2014 tour of Australia, 96 against South Africa at Durban in 2013 tour, the century against England on a green pitch at Lords in 2013/14 England tour, a century against New Zealand.

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In the first test match against South Africa at Cape Town, Rohit Sharma struggled against their pacers scoring 11 and 10 runs. If Rahane comes into the playing XI, then Indian team will benefit from putting a good total.

  1. Temperament
Ajinkya Rahane ©AFP

Rahane who comes at number 5 has a solid temperament to play good pace bowlers. With Rabada, Morne Morkel, Philander, and Chris Morris in their squad, he can create pressure by playing attacking strokes and can tire the bowler with defensive technique.

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Whenever India goes abroad, Rahane plays an important role in top quality pace bowling. If Rahane gets selected in the playing XI for Centurion test, he would do well and give the team a much-needed improvement while batting.

  1. Good record in South Africa conditions
Ajinkya Rahane carves a boundary behind square
(Photo by AFP)

Rahane has a decent record in South Africa conditions. In the previous tour of 2013 in South Africa, he performed in conditions which helped the fast bowlers. He scored 209 runs in 2 matches (4 innings) with the best score 96 at Durban with an average of 69.66.

  1. Ability to play well in tough conditions
Ajinkya Rahane celebrates after reaching his century at Lord”s (Pic by Getty Images/BCCI)

The best batsman for India in overseas conditions has done well during tough times. Whenever team India is in trouble, Rahane has scored important runs and helped team India to post competitive totals. When India struggled at Lords during the 2nd test, Rahane came, scored a century on a green pitch and helped the visitors to post a competitive total. India won the match to take the lead. Despite not being in form, Rahane should get a chance in the playing XI for the important second test at Centurion.

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He has scored 6 centuries and 9 half centuries in overseas conditions which shows that Rahane is one of the best batsmen in the current Indian team.

India was chasing 208 in the second innings. Ashwin was the top scorer with 37. Rahane would help and hope that Indian team could do well while batting.

  1. Excellent fielder
Ajinkya Rahane took three catches in the first innings and five in the second to register the record (Pic Source: AFP)

Rahane is one of the best fielders on this Indian team. He makes the catching looks easy in the slips. In the first test match at Cape Town, Shikhar Dhawan dropped a catch of Keshav Maharaj which cost India 35 runs.

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His catching at slips is also good. If he is selected in the playing XI for the second test at Centurion, then India can benefit from him having in tough positions.

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