NEW DELHI: Ajinkya rahane is currently the face of Team India’s character and the nation’s toast. The events of the last five days will be the highlight of your career. However, not many know that the leader of one of the biggest comebacks in the game has been battling bouts of doubt and uncertainty for nearly three years.
Being eliminated from two rounds in South Africa in 2018 despite being the designated vice captain was probably the lowest point in Rahane’s career. “That was a moment where it seemed like he might have taken a mental blow. Before that South African tour, he had done well overseas.
“Maybe the previous home series didn’t go as well as he had hoped, but you have to be patient with a player like Rahane,” former national coach Devang Gandhi told TOI. “You always have to look at the bigger picture. Right after that, he played a crucial 48 shot in Johannesburg, where we won the Test. It showed his character and his ability to fight.”
It was a turbulent time for Rahane. His place in Test XI seemed to be in jeopardy and his future in limited overs cricket didn’t look promising either. “He was a little concerned that he wasn’t included in the ODI. Before that tour, he had scored five 50 in the ODI as a starter. But he had to give way once Rohit and Shikhar got in shape. He was part of the team. and then there was the rise of KL Rahul. It became difficult to choose him, “Gandhi said.
It should be remembered that captain Virat Kohli had also made a statement about the usefulness of Rahane in the middle order for the World Cup in England that happened a year later. Rahane never played an ODI after the South African tour. “He was not chosen for the World Cup. That must have taken its toll on him,” Gandhi said.
Gandhi says that Rahane may be a personable young man, but he is firm in his beliefs. Rahane had reached out to the selectors and sought clarity about his future in both test cricket and the ODIs. “All the selectors had conversations with him. I remember that Jatin Paranjpe and I had a conversation with him in Bangalore in 2018. He was insisting on the way forward for him and asked for clarity. We assure him that he was very present. So far in what As for test cricket, his vice captaincy was never in doubt, “added Gandhi.
Sticking with Rahane as vice-captain even after he was eliminated for two tests was a great decision. “Whatever opportunity he had as captain, like in the Dharamshala Test match against Australia or even when Virat would be off the field for some time, he impressed with the way he led.
“The way he gathered everyone here is there to see. We saw Ashwin, Jadeja and other older people get together before making a call.”
Rahane’s form has been indifferent for three years. As he struggled to assert his position on the team, things couldn’t have been easy for him with the perception around him. “He was never willing to give up. He went to county cricket. He wanted to prove a point. He showed enthusiasm by appearing on shadow ‘A’ tours before the big tours. His determination and mental strength have brought him to this day. today where he has written this comeback from India in the MCG, “Gandhi said.
Similar to test cricket, Rahane has played the toughest session of his career and it’s time to make the most of his form.
.
