Very Few Rate Ajinkya Rahane As A T20 Player: Virender Sehwag Lauds The Delhi Capitals' Star For His Patient Knock Against RCB

Former Indian opening batsman Virender Sehwag was all praises for Ajinkya Rahane following his patient and gritty knock against the Royal Challengers Bangalore in Abu Dhabi on Monday. Ajinkya Rahane played his first substantial knock of IPL 2020 as Delhi Capitals reached the playoffs and bounced back from four consecutive losses. Virender Sehwag underlined that the right-handed batsman proved he could play as good as in T20s too.

Ajinkya Rahane did not click in the current edition previously as the Delhi Capitals’ batting line-up could not fire in the last few matches collectively. On Monday, Rahane walked in at number three, needing 153 on a tricky pitch. He shared an 88-run stand with Shikhar Dhawan and perished in the 18th over for 60 off 46 deliveries, putting the Capitals in the driver’s seat.

Virender Sehwag observed that very few rate Ajinkya Rahane as a T20 player. The 41-year old feels when a team has a solid player like Rahane at the other end to stabilise the innings, they can attack from the other side.

“Very few rate him as a T20 player. They say he can’t hit the fours and sixes but when you have a solid player like him in your team then you can attack from the other end,” Sehwag told Cricbuzz.

“It was a tough call for Ricky Ponting as both Ajinkya Rahane and Prithvi Shaw were not performing” : Virender Sehwag

Virender Sehwag also lauded Delhi Capitals’ coach Ricky Ponting for backing both Prithvi Shaw and Ajinkya Rahane despite both of them underperforming. The Delhi-born cricketer pointed out that Rahane’s experience was crucial as he showed his ability to bounce back. Sehwag believes that his strike rate of 130 during the innings of 60 was more than his average one.

“You play an experienced player because you know that he might not have scored runs for 3-4 games but he can come back in the next game with a big innings. That’s what Ajinkya Rahane did. He scored 60 off 46 balls and also scored at a strike rate of 130 which is more than his average scoring rate,” he added.

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