It Is Necessary For The Team That Ajinkya Rahane Remains In Form - Aakash Chopra

Former India opener, Aakash Chopra recites the importance of the form of Ajinkya Rahane as the Test vice-captain creams an unbeaten hundred in the warm-up game. Rahane will lead the team when regular captain, Virat Kohli leaves Australia after the first Test in Adelaide.

Kohli will return home to attend the birth of his first child with his wife and Bollywood actress, Anushka Sharma. He will leave after the Adelaide Test, which is a day-might pink-ball contest. Kohli has pulled out of the next three Test matches in Melbourne, Sydney, and Brisbane.

When confidence is high, the Indian team does well: Aakash Chopra

In the practice game against Australia A, Ajinkya Rahane came to bat at the score of 40/3 after Prithvi Shaw, Shubman Gill, and Hanuma Vihari were dismissed cheaply. Rahane and Cheteshwar Pujara staged a partnership of 76 runs post which Pujara got out for 54.

Rahane, who was leading the side, kept battling alongside the tailenders against a bowling attack which comprised of James Pattinson, Michael Neser, and Jackson Bird. India declared the innings at 247/9 with Rahane unbeaten on 117 from 242 balls.

Aakash Chopra has opined that it is necessary that Rahane carries this form in the Test series. Chopra pointed out that the 32-year-old will not only play as a batsman, but after the first Test, he will also take the leadership armband.

Rahane has led India in two Tests in Kohli’s absence – against Australia and Afghanistan each – and the team has won both the matches.

Hence, the commentator believes it is important for the team that Rahane remains in form throughout the series. Aakash Chopra feels that, otherwise, if the captain doesn’t have his personal form, his confidence drops down, so will that of the team. The 43-year-old says that when the confidence and runs are good of the captain, the team will eventually do well.

In a video uploaded on his YouTube channel, Aakash Chopra said, “Ajinkya Rahane scored a century which came at the right time as India was under pressure after losing wickets. He also played around 220 deliveries and it is necessary that Ajinkya remains in form.

“His form is very important for India on multiple counts, one as a batsman and the other as a captain because he will be the captain after the first game. If the captain does not have a personal form, then his confidence is down. When confidence is high, the Indian team does well. So, these are fantastic signs.”

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