For someone as elegant and subtle as Ajinkya Rahane, the series against Australia was going to be a beautiful opportunity to showcase his class and skill. In the absence of regular opener Shikhar Dhawan, an avenue opened up for Rahane to display his class against an excellent bowling attack. After five innings in the series, one can now clearly assert that it has been an opportunity grabbed by both hands from Rahane.
With four consecutive scores in excess in the last four games, the Mumbai batsman was indeed phenomenal throughout the series. To back up his superb series in the Caribbean, where he was the Man of the Series, this series against Australia has further cemented his position as a reserve opener and someone on whom the team can always rely.
However, the most heartening aspect was not related to Rahane alone, as his opening partner and the ever flamboyant Rohit Sharma too enjoyed a mighty productive series. In the last three outings in the series, Sharma notched up consecutive fifty-plus scores, to make it a memorable outing as well.
The fact that both the Indian openers were so phenomenal throughout the series makes for a mighty fine achievement. For the first time for an Indian side, Rohit Sharma and Ajinkya Rahane became the first opening partners to notch up three back to back century stands.
With the stands of 139, 106 and now 124 at Indore, Bangalore and Nagpur respectively, it was the first time that an Indian opening combination notched up three century stands in as many games on the trot. It surely makes for an outstanding achievement as when your opening combination gets going; half the game is won right at the top. With 111 runs more needed at Nagpur in 26 overs, India at the moment are on course to wrap up the series 4-1.