Rahane will find it difficult to get a place in the playing XI in South Africa tour: Gautam Gambhir
Veteran Indian batter Ajinkya Rahane has been short of runs lately and the same has earned him a lot of criticism. Many even reckoned the 33-year-old should be dropped from the Test team. While Rahane has managed to hold on to his place for the upcoming tour of South Africa, he has been stripped as vice-captain. Rohit Sharma will now play deputy to Virat Kohli in Test matches.
Meanwhile, India will play three Tests in the rainbow nation and Rahane is not a sure starter. As, Shreyas Iyer had slammed a sensational ton on his Test debut against New Zealand, many fans and experts believe the young batter should be selected ahead of Rahane in the playing XI. Former Indian batter Gautam Gambhir also believes Rahane will find it difficult to make a place in the initial line-up.
“Tough, that is what I can say because he is not a starter, to be honest. I feel Ajinkya Rahane will find it difficult to get a place in the playing XI,” Gambhir said during an interaction on the Star Sports show Follow the Blues. The southpaw also asserted that Rahane is unlikely to be preferred over the in-form duo of Shreyas Iyer and Hanuma Vihari.
Ajinkya Rahane’s selction for the South African tour was certain: Sanjay Bangar
“You have got Shreyas Iyer; it will be very difficult for India or the captain to drop him because of his recent performances. At the same time, Hanuma Vihari has done really well as well,” he explained further. Sanjay Bangar, who was a part of the same panel, said that Rahane’s selection was certain as he has done well in the past. However, he also believes the veteran’s inclusion in the playing XI is not absolutely certain.
“Ajinkya Rahane has got a place for the South Africa tour, and he should have got picked as well because you will definitely need experience there. Whether he gets to play in the first Test match is a question mark and the first match that is played before the Test match is going to be critical,” he added.
