It is disappointing to see an in form batsman sitting out on the bench, especially when he has played a pivotal part in winning the last ODI series.
In West Indies earlier this year, Ajinkya Rahane scored a century, three half-centuries and was named Man of the Series. Yet in the subsequent Sri Lanka series, he got just one game to play. Then in the absence of Shikhar Dhawan, and being given an open opportunity in the 5-match ODI series against Australia, Rahane made the most of it. He slammed a hat-trick of 50s and capped it off with one more.
But for now, he is back on the bench against New Zealand.
There is no denying that Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan are good opening batsmen. In fact, they are great opening batsmen. And they both equally deserve their top-order spot. But India has been rotating the no. 4 position like nobody’s business. Manish Pandey, Kedar Jadhav, Dinesh Karthik, have all come and chipped in with some good knocks. But nobody has been able to cement their position. Rahane himself has shown the ability to adapt at the top as well as in the middle-order, which he proved it successfully in the 2015 World Cup. But he too hasn’t been prescribed a place.
The selectors and team management sure have a difficult decision on their hands. All we can say is that when you combine talent and form, it serves as a lethal weapon. And we hate seeing it go to waste.
– Varun Kumar | SpreadSports
