Harbhajan Singh Questions Ajinkya Rahane's Technique Against Short-Pitched Deliveries
Published - 01 Mar 2020, 02:01 PM | Updated - 23 Aug 2024, 12:04 AM
India’s much-vaunted batting line-up has been throughout the scanner during the Test series against New Zealand. New Zealand’s fast bowlers in Trent Boult, Tim Southee, Kyle Jamieson, and Neil Wagner have methodically brought down India’s batsmen to their knees. And amongst all others, former Indian off-spinner Harbhajan Singh has questioned Ajinkya Rahane’s technique against short-pitched deliveries.
Towering pacer Jamieson and 33-year old Neil Wagner kept unleashing a barrage of short-pitched balls to Rahane. The right-handed batsman copped those to his gloves, on his body, and a handful on his helmet as well.
Eventually, left-arm bowler, Wagner claimed his wicket as Rahane chopped one of those onto the stumps for nine off 43 balls.
Ajinkya Rahane struggled to face short-pitched stuff?
The 39-year old Harbhajan, while in commentary, wasn’t convinced with Rahane’s approach to short-pitched balls and labelled him as a tailender rather than a frontline batsman.
The 103-Test veteran even conceded it as his worst knock and that the way Wagner bowled at him it looked as if a lower-order batsman was batting in the middle.
Number one Test team India clinging by the thread:
The tourists finished the day with 90 for six, having built their innings on a crucial seven-run lead secured by their bowlers. New Zealand could manage only 235 even after ending the first day at 63-0.
However, India’s batsmen succumbed again as none of the batsmen passed 30 so far.
The number one Test team would hope to set the hosts a target of 200 to give themselves a chance to level the series. It was Hanuma Vihari and Rishabh Pant, who were batting in the middle at the end.
