Kanpur, Nov 28, : , Former New Zealand skipper Daniel Vettori suggests that India cricketer Ajinkya Rahane be dropped for the second Test at Mumbai on December 3, so that he can overcome his current lean patch which has been too long. Stand-in skipper Rahane scores 35 and 4 respectively in the ongoing Test against New Zealand at Green Park, prompting questions about his form.
Former Black Caps spinner, Rahane, said that although he didn’t look nervous when batting, he was still getting runs cheaply, which would weigh on him sooner or later.
“He (Rahane), looks like he wants be aggressive, he doesn’t feel timid while batting.
He is still getting out, and that ostensibly starts to weigh on a batsman.Vettori said that he believes being dropped and having the ability to return can reset a lot for someone, especially as a batsman.” Vettori spoke on espncricinfo’s Match Day on Sunday.
“When you are under pressure in a Test match, it can weigh on your mind.
In many ways, if they (selectors), leave him out of the next test, I don’t believe it is a death knell to his career.It is a one-off Test match that Vettori believes will reset everything and give him the chance to do some work.”
Rahane came into this series under pressure about his performance, and he, as well as another senior batter Cheteshwar Pujara have done little to help their prospects with their performance at Green Park.
Wasim Jaffer, a former India player, was even more critical of the performances of the batters.
He said that it is always the bowler who must sit out if a batter fails to perform.
“I think he would be more upset that he got in his first innings and didn’t convert it into something big because second innings any time you bat on Day 4 or Day 5 pitches, it is going be hard work.
Jaffer said that it is easy to see why the second innings will be difficult.
“But the first innings, when the conditions are favorable for batting.That’s where I think he’d be upset that (it wasn’t converted) into a big run.Jaffer said that Virat Kohli will be a big question (for the second Test at Mumbai), who will go out and what combination the Indian team will play, since Mayank hasn’t got runs; Ajinkya doesn’t have runs; Pujara hasn’t got runs.”
Jaffer stated that it is wrong to bench a pitcher when a batter is responsible not putting enough runs on board.
“It’s (form Pujara and Rahane), going to be a big mystery going into the next Test.
In India, when the batsman is not in form, the bowler will sit out.You might see four bowlers in Wankhede (Stadium).
Jaffer stated that the selectors were in a difficult situation and might have to drop their stand-in skipper for Test 2.
“It’s a tricky question, because someone who is captain in the first test, you will think twice about dropping him for the second.Jaffer stated, “I’ll probably think about opening with Wriddhiman (Saha) and if Mayank (Agarwal) has to be dropped, then that is the only option I might consider (with),”
akm/ #Drop #Rahane #Test #reset #Vettori #Mumbai #Cricket #BCCI #ICC #IPL
.
