Veteran Indian spinner Harbhajan Singh while has praised India’s Test skipper Virat Kohli for backing Ajinkya Rahane in Test matches despite a dip in form. Rahane will be leading India against New Zealand in the first Test with Kohli rested for the game. The first Test starts from November 25 in Kanpur.
Ajinkya Rahane has endured a tough run-in Test matches ever since his century in Melbourne last year. He also led India to a famous Test series win over Australia in Kohli’s absence. Meanwhile, Harbhajan Singh has praised Kohli & company for sticking with Rahane and has backed the Indian vice-captain to score runs in the series.
“With no Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, Ajinkya Rahane will be leading the team in the first Test. Everyone was thinking whether or not he would be in the team. His numbers have not been good in recent times. Since the start of 2021, he has been averaging around 19. No doubt he is a very nice person and a very good cricketer, but his performances haven’t been up to the mark.”
Harbhajan further said that having got the backing, Rahane needs to score runs for the team.
“It is good to see Virat, Rohit and Dravid back players like Rahane. They have thrown their weight behind him. I hope Rahane leads the team from the front and fulfills his responsibility. He needs to score runs so he can play on for longer. If he doesn’t, there is a big line behind him. There is Suryakumar Yadav and a few others as well.”
Harbhajan Singh has further said India should not take the Kiwis lightly. The Kiwis have been India’s nemesis in recent times beating them in the 2019 World Cup final, the WTC final and in the T20 World Cup 2021 which knocked them out of the tournament.
“It will be very important how India starts against New Zealand, who can’t be taken for granted. New Zealand are strong enough to win Test matches in India as well. I want to see good cricket pitches so Indian cricket can move ahead by playing good cricket.”
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