Despite having a stellar test record, this Indian cricketer is finding it difficult to make his way back to the Indian national side. Can he make a succesful comeback?
Test Cricketer Fancies Making a Comeback to the Indian National Team
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text][/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Sometimes the workings of the Indian cricket team baffles the mind.Yes, we are lucky to have a team that bursting with talented players, in fact I would gone onto say that this is the golden era of Indian cricket yet we routinely cast out players that have the potential to become legends. Case in point is Ajinkya Rahane who has become an invaluable part of the Indian test squad. Now you would think that Rahane is a one trick pony who has yet to master the limited overs format. Not true!
If you look at his ODI stats you will be amazed to find that Rahane has scored 2962 runs from 90 matches at an average of 35.26, hardly something to scoff at. 843 of these runs have come with Rahane batting at number 4 which further increases his average to 36.65. He has also opened for the national side in 54 matches, once again scoring an impressive 1937 runs. Did I mention that those included three centuries as well?
When Rohit Sharma was injured in 2014, it was Rahane who stepped up to the plate and scored a couple of fantastic half-centuries in the Asia Cup. He also blasted an unforgettable ton against England at Edgbaston.
His form was well maintained even against tougher opponents such as Australia. In 2017, Rahane scored four half centuries in a row against the Aussies. This was followed up with a 79 against South Africa in the first match of an ODI series. Three sub par performances later and Rahane was exiled from the ODI team never to be seen again. This is despite India in desperate need for a number 4 batsman in the 2019 World Cup.
Despite such performances, Rahane has been absent from the ODI squad since India’s series against South Africa in 2018. When speaking to India Today, here is what Rahane had to say about his exclusion “I think the first plan is to come back in ODI cricket. I don’t generally talk about my records but I think an important factor is my record is actually really good over the last 3-4 years before I was dropped,” Rahane told India Today.
“Whether it’s opening the batting or at No. 4, my record was very good, my strike rate again was very good. I think my aim is to come back into the ODI set-up. I don’t when the opportunity will come but I have to work hard, I am working really hard on all the aspects. I am really confident about myself. It’s all about having the self-belief and being positive, being fearless.”
“I don’t have to prove it to anyone. Yes, IPL is the best platform. I don’t have to prove to anyone, it’s all about playing with freedom and playing for my team and doing well for my team,” Rahane added.
“If I contribute to my team, I think other factors will happen automatically. That said, my records in ODI before I was dropped was very good. I am not thinking about proving to anyone. Working hard on my game and keeping improving day by day and being positive is what I am planning to do.”[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
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