Ajinkya Rahane's Calmness Doesn't Mean He Isn't Aggressive: Sachin Tendulkar

Master Blaster Sachin Tendulkar has backed stand-in skipper Ajinkya Rahane to lead the team with aplomb in the upcoming three Tests of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

Rahane might not be the quintessential ‘in your face’ type of a personality like his skipper Virat Kohli but his calmness does not mean that he is not aggressive, feels the ‘Little Champion’. Tendulkar added that someone who does not show aggression with his demeanor does not necessarily mean that he isn’t aggressive. The former Indian cricketer cited the example of Cheteshwar Pujara to drive home his point.

”Ajinkya has led India earlier also, and his calmness doesn’t mean he is not aggressive. Each person has his way of showing aggression. Someone who doesn’t show aggression doesn’t mean he’s not aggressive. Pujara, for example, is very calm and composed; his body language is into the game, focussed. But that doesn’t mean that (Cheteshwar)Pujara is trying any less than anyone else,” Sachin Tendulkar told IANS.

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Rahane has earned huge plaudits for his leadership skills from the likes of Ian Chappell, Pragyan Ojha. The Indian Test vice-captain led the team with aplomb in the 2017 Border-Gavaskar Trophy series-decider in Dharamsala when Virat Kohli was out due to shoulder injury.

This time the challenge is slightly more tricky considering the fact that India is coming off a soul-crushing eight-wicket defeat at the Adelaide Oval; one that saw them record their lowest-ever Test total. Rahane himself did not have a Test to remember as he was involved in a game-changing run-out of Virat Kohli in the first innings. He had got off to a great start in the first innings but he once again failed to convert it into a big knock. In the second innings, he could only manage a 4-ball duck.

India will be without the services of Virat Kohli and Mohammed Shami for the remainder of the series but Tendulkar feels that the absence of seniors is a perfect opportunity for the newcomers to showcase their credentials.

”Each person has his own way of reacting and responding to situations, but I can assure you everyone’s destination is one; they’ve different routes to get there — and that is how they can make India win. So, Ajinkya’s would be a different style, different strategies. That is up to the team management — how they plan, how the pitch plays, and what our batting and bowling line-ups would be. All those things come into play. They will do everything to try and win. Absence of seniors does affect the balance of a team, but that gives opportunities to someone else. Overall, it is about Team India and not about individuals” he added.

Also Read- “Grit, Discipline And Planning”- Sachin Tendulkar’s Mantra For Success For Team India In 2nd Test