SA vs IND 2018: We Should Definitely Play Ajinkya Rahane in the Third Test - Mohammad Azharuddin

The exclusion of Ajinkya Rahane from the Test side for the first two Test matches took many by surprise, including Mohammad Azharuddin, the former India captain.

Azharuddin has backed the comeback of Ajinkya Rahane for the third Test match, as he has said he is too good batsman to be kept out of the team,

“We should definitely play Ajinkya Rahane in this test at least. I think Rahane is too good a batsman to be left from the scheme of things and should have been in the playing XI right from the first Test in Cape Town. We have to somehow redeem our prestige in Johannesburg. Virat Kohli should play the right combination as our batsmen need to counter the threat of the swinging ball with a different technique,’’ he told TOI.

“I was surprised to see our main pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar dropped from the squad for the second Test,’’ he added.

First talking of Rahane, his form was the reason behind his axing from the playing XI. Rahane, despite his poor form against Sri Lanka, was retained as the vice-captain of the Test side but he didn’t get a place in the playing XI on the first two Tests. Rohit Sharma too failed to make most of the opportunity, which now is all set to see Rahane making his comeback in the playing XI.

However, it is still not confirmed whether it would be Hardik Pandya or Rohit Sharma who would make a place for Rahane.

Coming to Bhuvneshwar, he was never a first choice for the captain on tour, which comes as a surprise. He has done well in the past few months and went on the tour as the leader of the pace attack but was all set to be benched right from the first game.

It was only after Ishant Sharma fell sick, that Bhuvneshwar played the first game of the series. However, the highest wicket-taker of the first Test (for India) had to make way for the senior player as soon as Ishant got fit. The decision of Kohli to bench Bhuvneshwar took many former greats by surprise too.

Now when the series is lost, both the players are expected to make a comeback to the team for the third Test match, which starts today (January 24) at the Wanderers in Johannesburg.

Follow India’s tour to South Africa here: South Africa Vs India – Freedom Series

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