Star Mumbai batsman Ajinkya Rahane has been around the international circuit for a few years now. He had even featured in a number of ODIs and T20s with moderate success. Considering his technique, and consistent performances in domestic cricket as well as A tours, it was widely believed that he was ready for the grind of Test cricket a couple of years back. However, there was no place for him in the middle order since Dravid, Laxman and Tendulkar were still around, although they were at the fag end of their marvellous career. It must have been a frustrating period for Rahane since he was a traveller for a number of series’, watching all the action from the sidelines.
Rahane finally got to make his much-awaited debut at home last year. It was a poor start, as he played an uncharacteristically poor shot to be dismissed cheaply in the only innings that he featured in. Clearly, the pressure of the big day had got to him even though he had played international cricket before. Test cricket, after all, was the real test. The pressure of performing was even more on him since he was always rated as a proper Test player in spite of his rather surprising success in the IPL. Thankfully, Rahane got more opportunities to prove his worth, unlike a few other unlucky ones, and has risen to the challenge.
Rahane is currently on his third tour abroad, and has impressed in all three of them. He got a fighting 96 at Durban, bringing some respect to the Indian innings even as the rest of the batting struggled. It was a knock that deserved a hundred, but wasn't to be. Although the innings was his highest score on the tour, his 40-odd runs in an earlier visit to the crease was actually more significant since it must have given him the confidence that he belonged to the top level. Rahane looked in complete command during his stay at the crease until he was dismissed a few runs short of a deserved maiden fifty.
New Zealand it was where Rahane eventually got his maiden, and much-appreciated Test century. Many players in the past have promised so much with their domestic performances but have been found out in challenging conditions away from home. By hitting his first hundred in New Zealand, Rahane demonstrated that he did not belong to the same breed. He displayed wonderful technique en route to notching up his magnificent century. The knock would have given Rahane a lot of confidence as he headed into the future games, and he clearly has been in a different zone since.
When India had to choose the fifth batsman for the first Test of the England series, it was a simple case of Rohit Sharma vs Ajinkya Rahane. One possesses all the talent in the world while is other is an honest trier with limited talent. For all those who felt India made the wrong choice by picking Rahane over Rohit, the Lord's knock should have made them change their minds. With all due respect to Sharma's abundant talent, Rahane's stubbornness is not something Sharma has displayed in his short Test career so far. His chances will come too, but for now India can hail their new Test hero -- Ajinkya Rahane.
--By A Cricket Analyst
