Anil Kumble Backs Ajinkya Rahane For Comeback Against Bangladesh

Feb 8, 2017 at 10:14 AM

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Anil Kumble Backs Ajinkya Rahane For Comeback Against Bangladesh

One debate that has engulfed the Indian team management has been the choice between Ajinkya Rahane and Karun Nair. Keeping in mind that skipper Virat Kohli loves to be aggressive and back his bowlers to deliver the goods for victories, it can be assumed that India will field a 6-5 batting bowling combination, with all-rounder Ravichandran Ashwin stated at 6.

Such a composition is what makes things profusely tricky as only one of Rahane or Nair will be chosen. While Nair is fresh from a career defining triple-century against England at Chennai, Rahane has been India’s most reliable Test batsman across all conditions. The Mumbai lad has amassed runs in all nations and his versatility remains top notch.

In the pre-match press conference, coach Anil Kumble duly backed Rahane to excel in the one-off Test against Bangladesh in Hyderabad.

“We still haven’t thought about the combination but it is nice that Karun took his opportunity and did what he did in Chennai,” Kumble said.

“It is fantastic for a young cricketer to come in and score a triple-hundred. But we know what Ajinkya has done for this team. Ajinkya’s performances have been phenomenal across conditions.”

“It is nice that somebody who came in to replace Ajinkya because of the injury in Mumbai, took three or four innings and was able to score a three-hundred. It’s nice to have to have that kind of contribution and that kind of ability from the youngsters,” Kumble added.

Kumble gave a thumbs up to the opening pair of KL Rahul and Murali Vijay, stating that Tamil Nadu opener Abhinav Mukund has been drafted in as a reserve opener.

“I don’t think the opening slot is a concern at all. Vijay and Rahul have played wonderfully well in the last series. It’s just that you need a back-up. As far as we are concerned, openers have had injury issues, in the West Indies and in the home series as well. It’s just a concern.”

“Abhinav brings in not just the experience of playing at the international level but also lots of runs in the domestic season gone by. So he is in good form. And it’s a reward for what he has been able to achieve in the domestic circuit,” Kumble added.

The Indian coach hinted an opportunity could be in store for young all-rounder Hardik Pandya.

“We certainly want to keep Hardik in the mix,” Kumble said.

“He is someone who has the ability to become a good allrounder even in the longer format. It’s rare that you have someone who can run in and bowl at close to 140 kph and bat in the middle order.”He hasn’t been tested in the longer format. But we believe that if he is part of this mix. Whenever the opportunity comes, we will try him out. In the future, whenever we travel outside India, he will be someone we will probably look at.”

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