Twitter Slams Ajinkya Rahane After His Bizarre Batting Display In Second Test

Ajinkya Rahane’s poor tour of New Zealand ended on a dismal note as he was dismissed cheaply by Neil Wagner in the ongoing second Test. After losing Mayank Agarwal, Prithvi Shaw and Virat Kohli cheaply, India needed their vice-captain to play a solid innings.

However, Ajinkya Rahane, who was considered as India’s best overseas batsman not very long ago, failed to deliver. In fact, Neil Wagner toyed with him with his short ball strategy. The right-handed batsman copped a few blows which saw him run away from the line of the ball.

The weird strategy eventually led to his ugly dismissal when he moved to off side to steer the ball to the leg side, thinking that it would be another shot ball. However, it was not that short and Ajinkya Rahane ended up playing it on the stumps to depart for 9.

And as soon as the wicket fell, a number of fans and experts took to Twitter to express their surprise over that shot. Some even called for the exclusion of the Test vice-captain from the Test side.

Here are some of the reactions:

Atrocious stroke by Rahane. Hassled by short-pitched deliveries, he had still hung in there before losing his focus. Not unravelling well for India

— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) March 1, 2020

I've seen Courtney Walsh look more comfortable at the crease then Ajinkya Rahane in New Zealand.

— Rahul Desai (@ReelReptile) March 1, 2020

Rahane please#NZvIND pic.twitter.com/gZ9B8Zorzi

— Manya (@CSKian716) March 1, 2020

https://twitter.com/dosahungry/status/1233993156385026049

Time for rahane to make way

Such a tame innings, never thought would say this. #rahane #NZvIND

— Head before wicket (@brightbharath) March 1, 2020

#sportstak @vikrantgupta73 @rawatrahul9 It is a disgrace to see how Rahane handles short pitch ball. It appears even worse than India used to play in 1990-2000.He should be let away from the Indian team for any benefit to test cricket

— Swapnil Rai (@SwapnilRai93) March 1, 2020

https://twitter.com/SuranaRitesh/status/1233992083263938560

It was not the quality of the ball but the skill of Rahane which guided the ball neetly in to his stump #NZvIND

— sunil saxena (@saxenask352) March 1, 2020

Oh Dear, Rahane won't want to see that again, Very poor from him and the Indians. Shocked to see India's dismal performance with the bat, lack of intent, application and not committed to spending time at the Crease https://t.co/djTWcmfuVI

— sahil choubey (@sahilchoubey) March 1, 2020

#Kohli People talking about VK's poor run but forgot that he was highest run getter in SA and ENG, to me guy who should be left out is Rahane, absolutely failed in SENA countries,even batted poorly in home conditions, he has got enough chances in last 3 yrs @BCCI @RaviShastriOfc

— Ashish Das Biswas (@abis3067) March 1, 2020

Meanwhile, India failed to capitalise on their fine bowling in the first two sessions of day two. New Zealand started the day on a solid 63 for no loss in reply to 242. However, India’s bowlers came up with a stunning display to bowl out the hosts for 235 to take a seven-run lead.

The lead would have been much bigger had India not struggled to get rid of New Zealand’s tail cheaply once again as Kyle Jamieson and Neil Wagner added 51 runs for the ninth wicket to almost wipe out the lead. In reply, India finished the day on a precarious 90 for 6.

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