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For Indian batsman Ajinkya Rahane it has not been a pretty memorable series against South Africa. The right-handed batsman has till now, managed to score only 135 runs in the series, with only one half-century.
Yesterday (January 11), he was dismissed after scoring just 9 runs, In the first innings of the last Test. South Africa pacer Kagiso Rabada picked up Rahane’s wickets after he was caught behind. The 33-year-old batsman asked for a review but the replays showed that there was an edge.
'Trying his best'
After the day’s play, India batting coach Vikram Rathour said that Rahane is “trying his best” and looks “really good in nets.”
"No specific numbers are being discussed (about Rahane). He is trying his best and he looks really good in the nets. He has played some useful knocks in this series as well," Rathour expressed in the post-match conference after the day's play on January 11 (Tuesday).
"He needs to convert one of his starts into a big one and that is what he is trying for. We are hoping as management that he comes good," added Rathour.
Plenty of voices have been out there to keep Rahane out of the squad but Rathour has a different idea about this.
"I can assure you that this management would want to give one extra chance than one less so we will always think along those lines," he said.
Rathour on Kohli
India Test team skipper Virat Kohli, on the other hand played a crucial innings of 79 off 201 deliveries. His calm and patient knock helped team India to reach a respectable total of 223 against the hosts in the first innings of the third Test.
Rathour said that Kohli had a “phenomenal innings” but he did point out the soft dismissals as well.
“Virat played a phenomenal innings... Pujara was looking really good, but then they bowled a good spell in the morning, the conditions were overcast and they were challenging (for batting), but again I thought there were some soft dismissals in the later part of the innings, we could have done better definitely,” Rathour said.
““One good change today, he was more disciplined, I agree with that, so he really looked good, really good solid and with a bit of (more) luck, he could have converted into a big one, but I am happy (with) the way he played.”
