New Zealand series is very important for Ajinkya Rahane: Aakash Chopra

New Zealand is all set to tour India for three-match T20I series followed by two Test matches. As Virat Kohli will miss the first match, Ajinkya Rahane has been appointed as the captain for the first Test against the Kiwis. However, according to former India cricketer and commentator Aakash Chopra, this will be a testing time for Rahane.

The batter has had a lean patch recently with the willow. Rahane has scored just 644 runs at an average of 24.76 from the last 15 Test matches. There were also discussions on his selection in the side for the fifth Test against England. Chopra shed light on these points and reckoned that it will be a crucial series for him.

The former cricketer admitted that he is a Rahane fan and also highlighted his poor form lately. He added that though the batter is appointed as the skipper of the side his average is a tad bit of a concern and that he will need to score runs in this series as there is pressure on him to perform.

Though he is captain, he will have to score runs, says Akash Chopra

“You have named Ajinkya Rahane as captain for the first Test. But, let’s be honest, there were questions regarding Rahane’s selection for the final Test (against England) if the match had happened. As much as I like Rahane, his average has gone down massively in the past two years or so. There has been an odd good knock in between, but the average has fallen 20 points in the same period.

“It’s a very important series for Rahane. Though he is the captain, he will have to score runs because there is pressure. The last year has been really ordinary by his standards, by any standard actually,” Chopra said in a video on his YouTube channel.

India will lock horns with New Zealand for the first Test match on November 25 at the Green Park Stadium in Kanpur. Virat Kohli will miss this match as he has been rested. However, he will join the team for the second Test which is scheduled to be played at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai from December 3-7.