IND vs NZ 2017: Rohit Sharma Clueless About Ajinkya Rahane’s Batting Position

Jan 9, 2019 at 3:57 PM

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IND vs NZ 2017: Rohit Sharma Clueless About Ajinkya Rahane’s Batting Position

Such has been the conundrum surrounding Ajinkya Rahane’s role in the ODI team that even his teammates are not aware of what the future holds for the Mumbai star.

After failing to capitalise on the opportunities last year when he was asked to open the innings following Shikhar Dhawan’s axing from the team, the right-handed batsman’s sizzling performances in recent times have coincided with Dhawan’s red-hot form.

If Dhawan had finished the Champions Trophy as its highest-scorer, Rahane, in Rohit Sharma’s absence, ended the five-match in West Indies as the highest run-getter, scoring three half-centuries and a century to bag the Man of the Series award.

However, he had to make way for Rohit once the right-handed batsman returned for the series against Sri Lanka before he got a lucky break when Dhawan pulled out of the series against Australia due to family reasons. Rahane grabbed the opportunity with both the hands and slammed four fifties in the five-match series.

But despite the impressive performances, it is more than likely that he would once again make way for Dhawan in the upcoming three-match series against New Zealand, and even Rohit Sharma has no idea about the role of the in-form batsman in the team.

Speaking ahead of the first ODI, Rohit said Dhawan is back and also cast doubts over the possibility of seeing Rahane at number four.

“See, I have no idea about that where he (Rahane) will be batting, yes Shikhar (Dhawan) is back, but speaking of Rahane he is probably grabbed all his opportunities in the last few series that he has played, now it’s on the captain and the coach, what they want and where they want him to bat,” Rohit said.

Rahane scored four consecutive fifties against Australia (Credits: BCCI)

A couple of series back the captain came and spoke about that he considered him as a opening batsman and I don’t know if he (the captain) wants him to bat at four again , that will be completely his call, if he feels that we need someone like Rahane batting at four in this particular team right now, I don’t know if that will happen, it is very unclear, we have to wait and see,” he added.

Rohit feels Rahane will not be tried at number four (Credits: BCCI)

Rohit, who himself had suffered a similar fate in the initial years of his career, further advised Rahane as well as his other teammates to keep performing consistently.

“Whatever limited opportunities he (Rahane) has had in last few series, he has performed well. It only shows that the strength of this team is so vast, that anyone can come at any time and take the position, so we all have to be on our toes and keep performing the way we have in the last few years,” he remarked.

The first game of the series will be played on Sunday (October 22).

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