Dilip Vengsarkar Calls Out Ajinkya Rahane For Poor Showing In New Zealand Test Series
Published - 04 Mar 2020, 05:20 PM | Updated - 23 Aug 2024, 12:04 AM
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Former Indian cricketer Dilip Vengsarkar has blasted Ajinkya Rahane after his recent struggles against New Zealand in the recently-held Test series. Being India’s vice-captain, much was expected from Rahane, who failed made a good start but faded towards the end of the series.
In the first Test, India’s Test specialist started on a decent note, scoring 46 runs in Wellington. Although, in the following innings he could score just 29 runs as India lost the first game by 10 wickets.
In the following fixture, Rahane’s struggles continued and could conjure up just seven runs in the first innings and nine runs in the second innings as New Zealand whitewashed the visitors 2-0.
After a toothless performance in the recent tour, the 31-year-old was on the receiving end of some harsh words from Vengsarkar, who did not mince his words in his criticism of Rahane.
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You have to show patience and guts: Dilip Vengsarkar on Ajinkya Rahane
The former Indian batsman Vengsarkar, who played 116 Tests himself, schooled Rahane, while also adding that his technique was all over the place against New Zealand.
“He’s making an extra movement with his hands while batting. He’s moving his bat too much in his backlift. He’s a fraction of a second late on to the ball. It explains why his head isn’t still when the ball is delivered,” told Vengsarkar to TOI.
He continued, “You need to leave the short balls alone. They were bowling short-pitched stuff on a green top. Your shot selection becomes very important in such a case. You’ve to show a lot of patience and guts.”
With the ICC T20 World Cup coming up later this year, there isn’t too much Test cricket lined up until the end of 2020, except for India’s away series in Australia, Down Under.
While Rahane hasn’t played a lot of T20I cricket, he will now go back to to the drawing board and try to find his rhythm.
Moreover, it’s a good thing that India’s tour of Australia is at the end of 2020, as it gives their Test specialist some time to find his lost bearings.
