Ian Chappell believes that team India in Ajinkya Rahane has got a suitable replacement as Test captain. Rahane looks the front runner to lead the Indian side in absence of Virat Kohli in the last 3 Test match. The Indian batsman has remained the vice-captain of team India for the last few years in Test matches under Kohli.
Also, Rahane has previously captained India in Test against Australia in 2017 at Dharamshala. Former Australia skipper Chappell recalled that Test match and stated that he was impressed with the way Ajinkya Rahane led the Indian side. The series was tied at 1-1 and it in deciding Test, Rahane was spot on with his captaincy in crucial stages.
Ajinkya Rahane as captain was positive and aggressive- Ian Chappell
Chappell added that Ajinkya Rahane as a leader was pretty positive and aggressive. It also reflected in his batting as he led from the front with the bat and made a key contribution. As a result, India clinched the Test match and the well-contested series by 2-1.
“As far as captaincy is concerned, I saw Ajinkya Rahane captain in one Test match against Australia when Australia was in India a few years back and it was the deciding Test match. And I was very, very impressed with Rahane’s captaincy”, Ian Chappell told Micheal Holding on his YouTube Channel while talking about the India and Australia series.
“I thought he was very positive, very aggressive. When the game was in the balance, he always took the aggressive option and he batted well at a time when India was probably going to win anyhow but things had got a little bit shaky. And he came in and took on Pat Cummins and took them home to victory”, Chappell added.
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Meanwhile, Ajinkya Rahane is a seasoned performer and has enjoyed success in Australia as a batsman. However, in the last few years, he has been unable to string consistent performances and many have even wanted him to be axed from the Test side.
The good thing is that captain Virat Kohli and coach Ravi Shastri has always backed him because of his notable performances in the past away from home. Further, Chappell tagged Rahane as a good replacement captain and warned the Aussies about not being complacent against India even without Kohli.
“At least, they have got a very good replacement captain. And the other thing is if Australia, I don’t think they will do this, if Australia thinks that ‘Kohli is gone home and all we have to do is turn up’, if they think like that, it will be a big mistake. I don’t think they will be complacent,” Ian Chappell said.
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