Three Possible Contenders to Replace Ajinkya Rahane as Vice-captain

Team India Test vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane is arguably one of the complete batsmen of the post-Sachin Tendulkar era. He is probably one of the professionals to rely on when it comes to a calmer approach amidst spunk in the dressing room. Post-Tendulkar era is mostly occupied by players with tattooed arms, gelled hair and peroxide bleach. We will also brief you about the three possible contenders who could replace Rahane as Virat Kohli’s deputy.

The cricket caravan moves as India travelled to London where are locking horns with England. The defeat at Edgbaston in the first Test indeed will be reverberating around Indian dugout. There are many areas where Team Indians needs to Improve.

The misery of Ajinkya Rahane:

One such agenda would be the form of India’s Vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane. When it comes to Rahane, he gets praises for his batting composure and is an essential member of India Test team.

However, things are not going according to the expectations. Being the deputy of Kohli, he found himself in the slump as he suffered from a major dip in his form.

Ajinkya Rahane averages mere 10.72 in his last seven Tests, and that is the primary concern for Team India.

He got two chances to prove his worth in Birmingham. However, he threw his wicket away. Being an essential component of India’s batting, the ongoing form of Ajinkya Rahane dents India.

He got two chances to redeem in Birmingham but once again his poor-shot selection outside the off-stump cost his wicket in both the occasions.

According to the sources close to Ajinkya Rahane, he is doing his best to organize his thoughts to tackle the English bowling in the second Test.

Rahane would wish to repeat the same knock which he displayed four years before in Lord’s. He scored 103 that acted as a cornerstone for India’s memorable win.

However, if the ongoing performances will be few, the management will not be having too many options to drop him.

But there is a candidate like Karun Nair who has the potential to replace this Mumbaikar.

Here in this article, we will present top three possible contenders who have a chance to become deputy of Kohli in case Rahane gets axed from the Test fold.

3 Cheteshwar Pujara:

Cheteshwar Pujara enjoyed a huge fan base even before his international debut. Following the retirement of Rahul Dravid, India was missing a batsman in the squad like him.

However, Test specialist Pujara was touted as a batting genius with the capability to fill the boots of veteran Dravid.

While like most of the batsman are aggressive, swashbuckling and have a modern-day attitude, Pujara has different likes. He possesses the temperament and technique similar to Dravid, rare of the so-called old-school talent.

Because he hardly misses any game in the Test format and India has been somewhat dependent on him, He can be the next deputy. His composed nature will help India while forming a healthy mixture after mingling with the aggressive leader like Kohli.

2 Murali Vijay:

Despite the fact, Murali Vijay grabbed the eyeballs of selectors in Indian Premier League (IPL). Vijay has not made quite an impression in the limited-overs team.

However, when it comes to Test cricket, he is the regular opening batsman for the national team. He made only 67 appearances in coloured clothes after making his debut in 2010.

Vijay played his last limited-overs match in 2015. He has failed to cross the barrier of 72 in his 67 appearances.

However, his talent and temperament in the extended format has grabbed the eyeballs of the national selectors. With an average of 39, he enjoys an enormous success in the Test Cricket while having a career best of 167.

Vijay is a treat to watch when he on enjoying the merry run. The star batsman is famous for his clean hitting and reliable technique and is joyful to watch. He can fill the boots of Rahane when it comes the role of being a vice-captain.

1 Ravichandran Ashwin:

The Chennai-based off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has taken spin bowling to another level. After the retirement of Anil Kumble followed by the dip in the performance of Harbhajan Singh, India has a deficiency of an offie.

Ashwin not only filled the gap but at the same time did great justice with the records.

Besides being a former number one bowler, he is a great all-rounder as well. He finished the 2016 year while being number one all-rounder in ICC Test rankings.

Ashwin faced criticism after critics raised fingers on his overseas performance. However, he replied to them with his outstanding performance during the ongoing England tour.

Following the emergence of Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal, Ashwin lost his place in the limited-overs cricket. However, he is a senior campainger and in the longest format of the game.

In the first Test at Edgbaston, he proved his worth by getting wickets at regular intervals. He is the first Indian bowler to reach 200 Test wickets under the leadership of a single captain. He achieved this unique feat in Birmingham Test under the guidance of Virat Kohli.

From the captaincy point of view, Ashwin has already proved his worth while leading Kings XI Punja in the IPL.

So, Ashwin can be a suitable replacement when it comes to replacing Ajinkya Rahane as a vice-captain as one of the three possible contenders for Team India.