Ravi Shastri Needs To Motivate Ajinkya Rahane; Says Maninder Singh After Indian Vice-Captain's Poor Batting Show Against England

Former India cricketer Maninder Singh thinks that Ravi Shastri needs to talk with Ajinkya Rahane and should motivate him. His comments arrive post-Ajinkya Rahane’s poor batting performance in the ongoing India vs England Test series. During India’s loss at Headingley in Leeds, Rahane scored 10 and 18 in both innings.

So far in the three Tests against England, the Indian Test vice-captain has only scored 95 runs in total at a low batting average of 19. His only decent knock arrived in the 2nd innings of the Lord’s Test, when he mustered 61 runs. His knocks in 5 innings of the 3 Tests reads 5, 1, 61, 18, and 10.

Ravi Shastri Needs To Motivate Ajinkya Rahane: Maninder Singh

While speaking to ESPNCricinfo, Maninder Singh said that he feels Ravi Shastri needs to talk to Ajinkya Rahane and motivate him.

“I think there is going to be a lot of talk. Ravi Shastri is a good motivator and he has motivated this Indian team really well. That is why, probably, if you see their record since he has become coach, it has been pretty good. I would be expecting Ravi Shastri to be a little over-active. Ajinkya Rahane has played 80-odd Test matches. But Shastri can’t think that he has played 80 Tests so he knows his job”, Maninder Singh said.

Maninder Singh also said that even great players sometimes need to be motivated and the same is true for Ajinkya Rahane.

“Sometimes even great players need to be motivated. You need to sit with them, maybe take him out for dinner or something. You need to keep telling Rahane that he has done it before, he can do it again, and that he has got to be in a positive frame of mind. That is one department where all coaches need to be proactive,” he further added.

India lost the 3rd Test to England by an innings and 76 runs. While batting against a lead of 354 runs on their shoulders in 2nd innings, Virat Kohli and co. were bowled out for 278 runs. Virat Kohli and Cheteshwar Pujara looked in good touch at one point with a 99-run stand. However, after Cheteshwar Pujara (91) and Virat Kohli (55) lost their wickets, the rest of the batsmen collapsed like a house of cards.

With England’s victory, the 5-match Test series stands tied 1-1 after the completion of 3 Test matches. India and England will lock horns in the next game at Kennington Oval in London. India vs England 4th Test begins on September 2 (Thursday).

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