Harbhajan Singh hopes Team India will persist with under-fire middle-order batsman Ajinkya Rahane for the third and final Test against South Africa. The veteran off-spinner Harbhajan Singh had pulled down curtains on his illustrious career as he announced his retirement from all forms of cricket, a few days ago.
Ajinkya Rahane was dismissed for a golden duck in India’s first innings of the Johannesburg Test. However, he bounced back in the second essay to score an enterprising half-century which helped Team India set a decent fourth-innings target for the Proteas which, however, went in vain.
Harbhajan Singh Hopes Ajinkya Rahane Should Be Given Another Chance In Cape Town After Fifty In 2nd Innings Of 2nd Johannesburg Test
In a video shared on his YouTube channel, Harbhajan Singh expressed hope that Ajinkya Rahane does not have to make way for Virat Kohli for the Cape Town Test against South Africa.
He said: “The good thing that happened in the Johannesburg Test was that runs came from Ajinkya Rahane’s bat in the second innings. I hope Ajinkya Rahane is given another chance in Cape Town. It should not happen that Virat Kohli comes in and Ajinkya Rahane is made to sit out.”
The former India cricketer was also happy that Cheteshwar Pujara was amongst the runs in the Johannesburg Test.
Harbhajan Singh elaborated: “I will want Rahane to score runs, to convert the fifty to a hundred, so that his confidence will be better for the upcoming series. The sword is hanging over the necks of Ajinkya Rahane and Pujara. So, it felt good that both of them scored runs and batted with responsibility.”
Cheteshwar Pujara scored 53 runs off 86 deliveries and stitched together a 111-run partnership for the third wicket with Ajinkya Rahane. It was also Cheteshwar Pujara’s fastest Test fifty away from home. Cheteshwar Pujara scored 53 while Ajinkya Rahane played a fluent knock of 58 runs off 78 balls but India expects more from them.
Kagiso Rabada accounted for the downfall of Ajinkya Rahane and Cheteshwar Pujara at a time when India was cruising with a 111-run partnership. The 26-year old’s dream spell had changed the course of the game and had created faith for the batters to chase down a score of 240 in the fourth innings.
Harbhajan Singh Hopes The Fifties By Cheteshwar Pujara And Ajinkya Rahane Gets Converted To Hundred
While observing that both Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane have served Indian cricket for a considerable period, Harbhajan Singh highlighted that the latter in particular had a poor 2021 with the bat.
He stated: “Both of them are formidable players, it does not need to be mentioned. They have been in the Indian team for a long time and have secured a permanent place for themselves although Ajinkya did not have a good last season, he didn’t score the big runs.”
The recently retired off-spinner concluded by lauding Ajinkya Rahane and Cheteshwar Pujara for delivering under intense pressure.
Harbhajan Singh observed: “I hope those fifties would have been converted to centuries but it’s good to see that both of them are gaining their confidence. I know there is a lot of pressure when a player is not in form but I think you guys have done a commendable job.”
Ajinkya Rahane averaged a lowly 20.82 with the bat in 2021. With Hanuma Vihari playing fighting knocks in both innings at the Wanderers, the team management will have a tough selection choice if Virat Kohli is fit and available for the Cape Town Test.
Virat Kohli missed out on the 2nd Test due to an upper back spasm so Hanuma Vihari got a chance. It was his first Test match since that marathon match-saving effort in Sydney in the new year’s Test match last year. In the first innings, he scored a laborious 53-ball 20 before getting caught on a short leg off Kagiso Rabada, and in the second innings, he looked quite assured with a solid knock of unbeaten 40 as he was left stranded.