WI vs IND: Kohli backs ‘solid’ Rahane to come good
India captain Virat Kohli has backed his Test deputy Ajinkya Rahane to “come around” despite the latter’s average Test performances in the past year. Speaking at the pre-departure press conference on Monday, Kohli said there is no need to “jump the gun” because Rahane has “done the job under pressure”.
Hailed as one of the most technically sound Indian batsmen, Ajinkya Rahane has often been in and out of the Test team. Last year, he missed the first two Tests against South Africa and scored a match-winning 48 in the third. He returned to play the following three series – against England and Australia away and West Indies at home. However, his lean patch continued for the next 28 innings, with 81 as his highest score.
Captain Kohli to the rescue
Kohli though has said that the most important thing is to give Rahane the confidence he needs to turn things around.
“Jinks [Rahane] has been a solid player for us through and through and that’s always been our communication,” Kohli said. “He is one of the most sorted guys. Really, really composed, reads the game well also, priceless fielder, we have all seen the impact he can make in Test cricket with his slip catching and everything. I think under pressure he has performed really well. I don’t think we should jump the gun on someone like Jinks because he has done the job for you under pressure.”
Impressive in the Caribbean
India’s vice-captain now has two Tests to look forward to in the upcoming West Indies tour. In the four Tests he’s played in the Caribbean, Rahane has scored 243 runs at a massive average of 121.50. He has also registered a fifty and a century. His overall Test numbers are even more impressive – 56 Tests, 3488 runs at an average of 40.33 in six years of Test career.
Also read: How have current Indian batsmen fared in the Caribbean
This time around, Rahane will have his task cut out as he competes alongside teammate Rohit Sharma. Coming off a highly successful World Cup, a confident Rohit is set to take giant strides towards Test cricket. But with Kohli hinting at a possible middle-order, both Rahane and Rohit could feature in the playing XI together.
“He (Rahane) is one of the pillars of our batting order that we can bank on. Him and (Cheteshwar) Pujara, as I’ve said, have been our most solid Test players. I am sure along with Puji playing so well, myself at No. 4, Jinks will also come into the groove and once he starts scoring, he can spring in scores on a consistent basis,” Kohli said.
