Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane
Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane (Credits: Cricket.com.au)

Former Indian selector Kris Srikkanth has opined on India’s chances in Australia under Ajinkya Rahane’s leadership. India’s vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane will step into the leadership role for the next three Tests against Australia in Virat Kohli’s absence. Ajinkya Rahane, usually a relaxed and calm customer, faces an uphill task in reversing India’s fortunes after their convincing loss in the first Test. Kris Srikkanth believes that his composure could work in India’s favour.

Ajinkya Rahane has the responsibility of reversing his team’s fortunes quickly and correcting his form with the bat. The 32-year old managed 42 runs in the first Test in Adelaide, including a duck in the second innings. The absence of Kohli means that Rahane and Cheteshwar Pujara have to take greater responsibility in terms of scoring runs against a strong Australia’s bowling attack. As far as his captaincy’s records goes, Rahane has a perfect record, winning two Tests as captain.

Ajinkya Rahane
Ajinkya Rahane (Credits: Twitter)

Kris Srikkanth pointed out that Ajinkya Rahane is a proven leader in Test cricket alongside an encouraging record in the format. The former Indian opener mentioned that unlike Virat Kohli, Rahane maintains his composure and has a calming influence on the players. Thus, the change in captaincy and new ideas in place could change their fortunes.

The new leader Rahane has a proven record in Test matches, like how he led the Indian team in Dharmshala. He has a good record in Test. As a personality also he has a calming influence on the players, he is not sort of the likes of Virat Kohli who expresses himself in an aggressive mod. Maybe change in fortune with the captain also and if new ideas put he might set the different benchmark in the coming Test match,” Srikkanth said as quoted by News Indian Express.

Ajinkya Rahane could give Indian selectors a lot to think about: Kris Srikkanth

Kris Srikkanth, Virender Sehwag
Photo Credit: Getty Images.

Kris Srikkanth further said that Virat Kohli has the best record as the Indian Test captain and he sees the three Tests as Ajinkya Rahane trying to establish himself. The 61-year old believes that if Rahane does well as the skipper, it does give the selectors plenty to think about.

“It’s too early to say because the track record of Virat is by far one of the best in Indian history as a captain. I won’t look at that way but if Rahane is able to establish himself as a Test match captain in absence of Kohli, I think it gives an option for the Indian selector and Indian team to look at,” he added.

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