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Cricket legend Sunil Gavaskar has voiced his opinion on the Indian cricket team's batting lineup, particularly in the context of their performance on Day 1 of the Boxing Day Test against South Africa in Centurion. Gavaskar highlighted the potential impact that veteran Ajinkya Rahane could have had on the team's total in the match.
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During the first day's play, South Africa's Kagiso Rabada showcased his bowling prowess, claiming a five-wicket haul and playing a crucial role in India's batting collapse. However, KL Rahul stood as a beacon of resilience, scoring an unbeaten 70, even as the team ended the day at 208 for 8, hindered further by poor visibility and rain.
Gavaskar, speaking during a broadcast, suggested that India's scoreline might have been more favorable had Rahane been part of the playing XI. He recalled Rahane's significant 48-run knock in the 2018/19 Johannesburg Test, a pivotal contribution that led to India's 63-run victory in that match. Rahane's experience and capability to handle challenging pitches could have added much-needed stability to the Indian batting order in Centurion.
"People have been talking about the pitch in the Johannesburg Test five years back and I was there. Yeah, it wasn't the easiest of pitches to bat on the odd ball was climbing up. And Ajinkya Rahane, who had not been picked for the first two Test matches, was picked for that game and he showed what the Indian team had missed because earlier on in the first couple of Test matches India did not lose by big margins. So maybe somebody with Rahane's experience overseas... because Rahane overseas has been such a fine, fine player and maybe if he had been there today the story could have been completely different," Gavaskar said on commentary on Star Sports.
Rahane, along with Cheteshwar Pujara, was initially dropped from the team in early 2022, marking a shift towards younger players. While Pujara made a comeback through his County cricket performances, Rahane spent a significant time away from international cricket. His return in 2023 was marked by a successful stint with Chennai Super Kings in the IPL. Despite a commendable fifty in the World Test Championship final, Rahane faced inconsistency in selection, being appointed vice-captain for the West Indies tour and then being dropped for the South Africa series.
Gavaskar's comments bring to light the importance of experience in Test cricket, especially in challenging overseas conditions, and how a player like Rahane could potentially influence the course of a match with his batting acumen.
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