Summary
Indian cricket fans are not too happy with Ajinkya Rahane. He stood in as skipper in the first test against New Zealand as regular captain Virat Kohli wanted to be rested.
The selectors had no problem in giving Rahane the captaincy as he did a great job in Australia when Kohli was absent and helped Indian win a test series down under.
India is always dominant at home as their spinners use the spin friendly wickets in their favour. Indian fans were expecting them to win the first test but they were disappointed as New Zealand showed amazing fight till the very end and secure a draw. While the first test ended in a draw, Indian fans will not see it that way as India should have won the test.
The main culprit being singled out is Rahane. Many believe that he waited way too long in the second innings to declare and it was this decision that cost India a win as they did not have enough time to take the final wicket.
India Today
Ajinkya Rahane is also under fire for not performing with the bat. As a captain, he was supposed to lead from the front but he ended up scoring 35 and 4 in the first test. Debutant Shreyas Iyer was the star performer scoring 105 and 65.
Rahane’s form in test cricket has been sketchy for a long time now and there have been calls before for him to be dropped. His test average during the last 16 tests is below 25, his average at home is below 36 and his career average has now dropped below 40. Those are not stats that should get you a place in the Indian test team but head coach Rahul Dravid differs.
Rahane and Dravid share a good relationship as Rahane has said in the past he modelled his batting style on R Dravid. The new head coach will not be happy starting out his coaching tenure with a draw but he is not willing to drop Rahane yet.
Dravid said that he thinks Rahane is one innings away from a big score and S Iyer will have to wait his time. However, the final XI for the second test is yet to be decided and V Kohli is likely to have some input in that decision as he is set to return and captain the side in the second test which starts on Dec 03.
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