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Former India star opener Gautam Gambhir has urged the Indian team management to drop Ajinkya Rahane in favour of returning Virat Kohli for the final Test match against South Africa. The two nations are set to clash at the Newlands in Cape Town on Tuesday (January 11) in a winner takes all scenario. The former player has backed Hanuma Vihari to continue in the team.
“As they go into the final Test, India need to do all the running around. South Africa will be happy with a draw in the third Test and would have won a lottery beat India. Virat Kohli is all set to return to the team. Once again, I will not win many fans for saying this but I'd leave out Ajinkya Rahane to accommodate the India captain,” Gambhir wrote in his column for The Times of India.
“I am more in favour of Hanuma Vihari to continue in the middle-order. Even in the past, Vihari has been conveniently left out to accommodate senior batsmen. I am not sure this is how a young talent should be looked after. I have nothing against Rahane, he is a nice guy with a good heart and showed some form too in the last game. But if I had anything to do with Indian cricket, I'd be worried for Vihari,” the 40-year-old added.
The cricketer-turned politician also enjoyed the recent Ashes encounter between Australia and England as the two nations played an exciting draw, which went down the wire.
“There were some dramatic scenes at the end of the Sydney Test. Australia hunting for England; England clinging on to dear life. In the closing moments, Australia captain Pat Cummins brought in Steve Smith to bowl his leg-spinners to England batsmen. The drama, the adrenaline, the tension all rolling well with each other to produce some good television time for all of us sitting on the couch and watching,” he added.
Both South Africa and India are geared up for the final clash as Team India targets their first Test series win in the land of the Proteas. While Kohli returns, his fellow Delhi-mate Ishant Sharma faces an anxious wait whether he could be part of the contingent or not. Mohammed Siraj will sit out with injury as the team management will until the last moment to decide the playing XI. The three-match Test series is currently tied at 1-1.
