Team India had a horrific outing in the two-match Test series against New Zealand. The batters have failed to rally behind the bowlers which have been most debated topic in the series. India's vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane had a forgettable tour; however, received backing from his skipper Virat Kohli saying that he has been a crucial performer in red-ball cricket and will bounce back.
The Kiwi pace quartet of Trent Boult, Tim Southee, Kyle Jamieson, and Neil Wagner reduced Ajinkya Rahane to a club batsman. He struggled badly against the short-pitch deliveries copping a few blows on his body. Coming to the Christchurch Test on the back of a couple of solid innings at the Basin Reserve, Rahane struggled badly.
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Kohli backs Rahane
He managed scores of only seven and nine leaving India in deep troubles in both the innings. Even the former cricketers also slammed Ajinkya Rahane and also called for dropping him from the squad. However, Virat Kohli came in support of his deputy saying that Rahane holds a special place in the Indian team. He believes the middle-order batsman will come back stronger and deliver the goods like he used to do for India during tough times.
“Collectively as a batting unit we did not perform. We take the hit together as a group, batting group as a team. Firstly, Jinx is one of those players who has been very solid for us in Test cricket. I don’t look at averages and numbers,” Kohli said in the post-match press conference.
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“It’ about impact performances. You know whether he is been able to make impact performances for the team and the answer for me is yes. Whenever we have required important performance from him, more often than not he has delivered in that regard,” he added.
India will hope Ajinkya Rahane to be in his mettle when India tour Australia for the Border Gavaskar trophy later this year.
