Team India vice-captain has battled to find consistency in the ongoing Test series against England. Rahane has struggled to score runs in the series, and in the fourth test also, managed to score only 14 runs in the two innings.
Several commentators and former cricketers have questioned Rahane’s place in the playing XI in the wake of his lackluster performance. Former India cricketer, Sanjay Manjrekar, also believes that Ajinkya Rahane will be extremely fortunate if he is given another chance to play in the fifth and final Test of the ongoing series against England.
“If he [Rahane] gets another game, he is a very lucky batter. I wish a lot of the other batters in the past were living in this era. He has got a very long rope. If he gets another game, that’s great for him.It’s not like when you give him more opportunities, he is starting to look better. The most worrying thing is that he gets an innings which you think will trigger him back into form but that never happens. So, he will be very lucky if he gets one,” Manjrekar said.
If I Wasn’t Dropped, Rahul Dravid Would Not Have Come In: Manjrekar
Manjrekar used his own example to explain why removing Rahane is the best decision for India. During his playing days, the former Mumbai batsman recounted how players like Rahul Dravid and others were given opportunities in the playing XI after he was dropped from the team.
“You have an obligation to the guys waiting in the wings. That’s how you look at Indian cricket. If I wasn’t dropped, people like (Rahul) Dravid and all those guys would not have come in.
Hanuma Vihari first and maybe Suryakumar Yadav. Very often you are surprised by players who are out in the reserves because you haven’t seen them and Ajinkya Rahane is not exuding confidence,” said Manjrekar.
With 1159 runs in 18 matches, Rahane was India’s leading run-scorer in the World Test Championship 2019-21. But Rahane has played in all four Tests of the current series so far but has managed to score only 109 runs.
Ajinkya Rahane’s Poor Returns For India
Ajinkya Rahane in his last 10 Test innings:
27, 49, 15, 5, 1, 61, 18, 10, 14, 0
Is it time for Team India to try another option in the middle order?#ENGvIND pic.twitter.com/Gf9bQd0gQe
— Wisden India (@WisdenIndia) September 7, 2021