At his pre-match press conference, Ajinkya Rahane was asked a question that was unusual but not surprising given the way Indian cricket is popularly narrated. Rahane was asked if he would ask outgoing captain Virat Kohli for advice for the remainder of the series.
However, it is not about Kohli’s obsession. It’s about Rahane. He did not find it offensive or disrespectful. If he did, he didn’t show it. Nor did he say it was his team for the remaining three tests and needed no advice from outside. And it wasn’t like he was going to take a diametrically opposite direction. You may be wary of headlines. “I wouldn’t want to disturb him,” Rahane said like a polite student. The other predominant question was about Kohli’s execution. He repeated that he had apologized to Kohli and agreed with that. He said Kohli also had a chat with the team before leaving.
It was as if cricket gazers would rather a cardboard cutout from Kohli than Rahane, and that’s not Kohli’s fault. He just does what he thinks is best for his cricket, and that’s what a lot of people believe and a lot of people prefer to see.
Could there be a worse time to replace Rahane? He was left without a captain, who became the image of the defeat of Adelaide. Now he was going to be without Kohli the batsman and two of his first-choice bowlers. More importantly, though, he didn’t go in with that incredible racing confidence behind him.
The last three years, when Rahane really should have flourished, it’s been more about finding himself. That he was eliminated at the start of the South African tour in early 2018 was perhaps not as painful as the lack of thought about it. When he returned, he played a crucial role in India’s victory at Wanderers in the test, which turned the tide, scoring 48 points after India lagged behind in the first innings in a low-scoring test. Then all of a sudden it was also India’s No.4 on ODI. Only to be discarded a series later, not knowing when the next question marks would appear.
Since then, despite participating in India’s victories at Trent Bridge and Adelaide Oval in 2018, Rahane has not been the dominant test hitter that he had been. Any failure, which is part of life in cricket rather than success, is magnified. Like Cheteshwar Pujara, he doesn’t have much of a chance to come back as he plays in one format. One of those two is perennially under the scanner. Rahane makes it worse for himself because he undergoes fighting in a format he’s not suited for, but that’s his choice and he should keep fighting in the IPL as long as he has teams willing to play him. But there is a school of thought that leaves your test game unsafe.
It was in this light that Rahane began the series, only to bring out Kohli and show off the appearance of a man condemned to publicly atone for his sins. This is not how sport works. Two mistakes followed, and he became the most to blame – “look, no feet” – part of a single collapse in a generation. Rahane said she didn’t want to think about all this, but to live in the moment. In a way, maybe it was good. The only way now was up.
Come on MCG, and there was no hangover from Adelaide either on the field or with the bat. That belief that Australia could be eliminated again for little money if they played well and their plans shone. That it would all depend on his hitting again. And that, with any luck, they could return to a position similar to that of the first innings in Adelaide before this excellent attack.
Within the first hour it was Rahane’s turn to stop another collapse. That advantage Rahane had was that in their contrasting styles, Shubman Gill and Pujara had exhausted the first spells of the rapids. He played as a self-supporting man, breaking a discernible trend in which he seeks an early limit or two and provides bowlers an opportunity. In the past three years, no Indian hitter has hit more wild limits in the first 30 balls of an inning than Rahane. In this series, however, he has registered two of his lowest scores after facing 25 balls: 1 and 3.
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This is also contrary to the criticism against defensive hitting: that you will eventually get one with your name on it, so you better score. The proof of this pudding was already in front of Rahane: Pujara’s defensive tackles had ensured that Pat Cummins cast an eight spell in the morning. He had made it a little easier for Rahane; I wish it was even easier playing Josh Hazlewood too.
Soon instinct took over and he began to save every loose ball. The analysis showed that their interception points were lower down the field, which was probably the case, but they were comparing a puck out of his 70s against players tired with his firing on nothing against players who had the bite in between. teeth. It’s not like there are no mistakes. This is batting test against a quality attack under test conditions. Errors are likely to occur, but his control percentage of 88 was remarkable.
Once he was inside, the domineering Rahane returned. From 17 to 59, he jerked free and kept scoring at an even pace. The batting test was fun once again. Every little mistake, and now it had moved on to Nathan Lyon and Cameron Green’s second set, was now punished. By the time Rishabh Pant and Ravindra Jadeja hit Rahane, he knew he had a chance to take the lead home. Rahane equaled Pant’s blow for blow and outlasted Jadeja.
The exhibition was an education for someone like newcomer Gill. “The way he was so patient [was amazing]”Gill said.” This hit was all about patience. More importantly, when you play such a high quality bowling attack, sometimes you fall into a shell and cannot score runs. And the way Ajinkya bhai played, it was such a magnificent shot to watch from the outside. Those difficult periods. How to end those periods. And then he made sure to put all the loose balls away. “
Thanks to its hundred, India is now in a batting session before pulling Australia out of this Test. Imagine the magnitude of this achievement: three missing first-choice players, the impact of 36 all, losing the draw, in an away spot against one of the best attacks of all time, and being in this position. It will be difficult to stay in the moment.
Sidharth Monga is assistant editor at ESPNcricinfo
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