Aakash Chopra Unhappy With Ajinkya Rahane Being Dropped From The ODI Team

Indian Test specialist Ajinkya Rahane’s shortened run in the national team’s ODI setup has come under the scanner from Aakash Chopra. In his Youtube channel, former Indian opening batsman Aakash Chopra has hit out at the selectors for leaving out Ajinkya Rahane despite not too bad credentials in 50-over cricket. The right-handed batsman played the last of his 90 ODIs in early 2018.

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Ajinkya Rahane kept oscillating between the top and middle-order and was often preferred to open if Rohit Sharma or Shikhar Dhawan suffered injuries. While he has 2962 runs from 90 ODIs, 843 of them have arrived while batting at number four at 36.65 in 27 games. On the other hand, 1937 have come while opening the innings alongside three tons in 54 fixtures.

Aakash Chopra reckons that Rahane’s numbers were quite good at number four and if one is remaining consistent and striking at 94, then that player deserves a chance. The 42-year old feels that Rahane’s axing came all of a sudden and was unfair. At present, the Maharashtra-born batsman’s presence is only limited to Test cricket.

“His numbers at No. 4 were good. And at number 4, if you are giving good performances, consistently playing well and strike rate is also around 94, then why are you not giving him more chances? He was dropped all of a sudden, just like you remove a fly from milk. Why was something like that done? I feel he was hard done by,” Chopra stated.

Aakash Chopra differentiated India’s gameplay in ODIs to that of England, who bludgeon the ball from the get-go to aim for 350. Instead, the cricketer-turned-commentator underlined that India’s approach remains the traditional way, which is to build innings step by step. Hence, Rahane fits in that plan.

“If India had become like England, that they will score 350 in every match, that is the only way they will play, whether it goes their way of not. We didn’t do like that. We still play cricket in the traditional orthodox way. We still build the innings and pick a team that can score around 325, so Ajinkya Rahane would have fitted in that,” he said.

Ajinkya Rahane should get an opportunity again: Aakash Chopra

Aakash recalled the 2018 ODI series in South Africa in which the 31-year old did well, despite which the right-handed batsman faced the axe. Hence, the 42-year old thinks that unfair and Rahane deserves another crack at it.

“In my opinion it was slightly unfair to him because when he was dropped from the ODI team he was absolutely fine. So when you are not playing someone after he has done well, you are not doing the right thing. In fact, when he played in South Africa, there also he did well. I remember that, it was in 2018. He should get an opportunity again,” he added.

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