Indian middle-order batsman continued his slump as he fell for a duck in the third innings of the Oval Test against England. Rahane had played out just six balls when he fell to a rampaging Chris Woakes.
India started out Day 4 cautiously, having obtained a lead of 171 runs on the previous day. Virat Kohli and Ravindra Jadeja saw out the first few overs before the latter was dismissed. Joe Root’s first change in bowling produced a wicket as Woakes got one to nip back into Jadeja and the batsman was beaten.
Under-fire Ajinkya Rahane then walked in while the ball was still relatively new. Woakes had also started to find some movement, but it was not the swinging ball that brought about Rahane’s downfall. It was a straight one that kept was angled in which any batsman with confidence could have put away.
However, after seeing Jadeja being sent out ahead of him, there was little to no confidence or self-belief left in the Indian vice-captain. He was adjudged LBW when he offered no shot but luckily survived after reviewing it.
Just a couple of balls later, Rahane tried to flick a straight delivery but missed completely. It was an easy decision for the umpire who had no qualms in raising his finger. Woakes was elated and so was the England team as they were suddenly back in the contest.
As for Rahane, it could well be his last international innings, as pointed out by certain Twitterati. While the minority believes he has earned the right to be given another chance, most of the people think he has reached the end of the rope.
Apart from a solitary half-century in the Lord’s Test, Rahane has looked out of sorts every time he has walked out to bat. Therefore, it could well be the time when we see one of the most talented players not develop his potential and end his career prematurely.
Here’s how Twitter reacted to Ajinkya Rahane’s duck in the Oval Test:
https://twitter.com/Kl_esque/status/1434486515162234880?s=20
https://twitter.com/AhanaRandall/status/1434483141561966594?s=20
https://twitter.com/Mental_age_12/status/1434486818502635521?s=20
Shardul is batting much more comfortably then Ajinkya Rahane.
Kya kare fir? Next match No 6 pe Shardul ke bheje ya Rahane ki jagah kisi or ko mauka de?#IndvsEng
— Deval Ghevariya (@deval_ghevariya) September 5, 2021
https://twitter.com/ImKaranSood/status/1434486846424190976?s=20
@ajinkyarahane88 & @cheteshwar1 Pls announce ur retirement after this test match …pls it’s a request …kab tak Lords ka ek 100 ka bhoj uthate rahenge hum …Bahut ho gaya . Give chance to younger player like @surya_14kumar , @RealShubmanGill , @PrithviShaw #INDvENG #Rahane
— Rahul Vyas 🇮🇳 (@ImRahulVyas1973) September 5, 2021
https://twitter.com/wildcardgyan/status/1434472380101844992?s=20
Thank you For Everything Ajinkya Rahane !!! #INDvENG #Rahane #AjinkyaRahane #indiavsEngland #4thTest #ViratKohli pic.twitter.com/yutUM12tl8
— Sunil Devanda (@devanda_sunil) September 5, 2021
Ajinkya Rahane in this series after spending 5mins on the crease#INDvENG #ENGvIND #ENGvsIND #Rahane pic.twitter.com/iUpibefReI
— Abhishek (@Ingenuity402) September 5, 2021
https://twitter.com/Shekhaw75103702/status/1434469854434652162?s=20
Suspect that’s the last of Ajinkya Rahane we will see for a long time. #INDvENG
— K Sudarshan (@SudarshanEMA) September 5, 2021
I've been the biggest Rahane fan since his RR times, but the time has come now💔 #AjinkyaRahane #ENGvsIND #INDvENG pic.twitter.com/caErlRpddC
— Ritikardo Di Caprio (@ThandaPeg) September 5, 2021
Also Read – “Rahane Is An Experienced Batsman, If You Keep On Demoting Him, It Will Affect His Confidence: VVS Laxman
