India’s vice-captain Ajnkya Rahane has struggled for consistency in his Test career. Despite being India’s highest run-getter in the Inaugral ICC World Test Championship, the right-hander’s career in the last few years has looked tepid. He averages 21.91 in seven test matches played this year. With India looking to win its first series in England in 14 years, the Rahane will have to play a major role.
Former Indian cricketer VVS Laxman highlighted Ajinkya Rahane’s importance in the Indian team. In a discussion on Star sports, Laxman said:
Fully focused on the goal. pic.twitter.com/Mntdo7Moza
— Ajinkya Rahane (@ajinkyarahane88) July 29, 2021
“Ajinkya Rahane is a very important member of this Indian batting lineup, especially in overseas conditions. I still remember the way he batted at Lord’s, in Melbourne and also the way he batted in South Africa was instrumental in India winning those Test matches.”
Ajinkya Rahane has to sort out is his game plan against short-pitched deliveries: VVS Laxman
VVS Laxman also pointed out chink in Ajinkya Rahane’s armor. The Mumbai batsman has often been troubled by short-pitch deliveries. In the recent ICC World Test Championship final against New Zealand, Rahane fell to Neil Wagner’s ploy after playing a rash pull shot that went to Tom Latham at the square leg.
“The one thing I feel that Ajinkya Rahane has to sort out is his game plan against short-pitched deliveries. We saw that in the series against New Zealand, we also saw that in the World Test Championship final. It almost was the game plan of the opposition bowlers to set him up with a barrage of short-pitched deliveries. Ajinkya Rahane has got only one option, which is to play the pull shot but when you are playing at the highest level you should also know which ball to play the pull shot and which ball to let go of,” VVS Laxman concluded.
The five-match Test series starts from August 4 at Trent Bridge, Nottingham.
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