Danish Kaneria feels that the time has come for Indian cricket to look beyond Test vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane.
The Indian middle-order batter has managed only one half-century in the series against England. On Thursday, he registered yet another failure in the first innings of the Oval Test. Ajinkya Rahane was dismissed for 14 off 47 deliveries, edging Craig Overton behind the wickets.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Danish Kaneria opined that Ajinkya Rahane has been given a long enough rope. He questioned why the likes of Suryakumar Yadav and Hanuma Vihari were not getting a chance.
“India’s middle-order collapsed again. Ajinkya Rahane has been a total flop in this series. I think, now the time has come for India to really think about Ajinkya Rahane. Not only Rahane, India’s overall batting is in poor form,” said Danish Kaneria.
Danish Kaneria added: “I don’t know why Suryakumar Yadav and Hanuma Vihari are not being given a chance in the playing XI. Suryakumar Yadav and Prithvi Shaw were called up to the Indian team in England from Sri Lanka. Everyone has seen how Rahane is struggling. As for Suryakumar Yadav, he looks like some one who is capable of scoring runs in all conditions. He could have been given a chance according to me.”
Suryakumar Yadav was brought in as a late injury replacement along with Prithvi Shaw. The Mumbai Indians batsman has been in good form as of late but has never played the longest format for India, and the challenge only increases in complexity, given the conditions in England.
Suryakumar Yadav or Hanuma Vihari are waiting in the wings and should get a chance according to Danish Kaneria. Although he is yet to play Tests, Suryakumar Yadav has a compelling record in first-class cricket, scoring 5326 runs in 77 first-class games at 44.01, with 14 tons.
Following a long wait, Suryakumar Yadav has made an excellent start to his international career. He was the Player of the Series in the ODIs against Sri Lanka and scored a half-century in India’s win in the first T20I as well. In his brief international career, the 30-year-old middle-order batsman has played 3 ODIs where he amassed 124 runs averaging 62 and 4 T20Is where he amassed 139 runs averaging 46.33.
Ajay Jadeja Thinking What Ajinkya Rahane Is Going Through
Meanwhile, in an interesting move, Ravindra Jadeja was sent to bat ahead of Ajinkya Rahane on Day 1 of the Oval Test. While there were mixed reactions to the move, according to Ajay Jadeja, it could be an indication that team management is beginning to lose faith in Ajinkya Rahane.
The former Indian cricketer said on the Sony Sports Network: “I am just thinking what Ajinkya Rahane is going through. One of your best batsmen, vice-captain of the side. Even before he has walked in, it’s like Rahane has almost got a signal, saying ‘we’re not too sure about you.'”
Ajay Jadeja added: “It could be the left-hander combination but I am just thinking in terms of someone who is uncertain with not a lot of runs. Before you walk in, you have got Ravindra walking ahead of you and there will be some time, whenever he walks in he is going to be thinking about it.”
Ravindra Jadeja was dismissed for 10 off 34 as India crumbled to 191 all out on Thursday. Shardul Thakur top-scored for India with 57 off 36 balls.