5 players who can replace Ajinkya Rahane at number five position

The Indian Test team had a splendid 2021 cricketing season. Under Kohli’s captainship, the team has been performing dominantly. As they grow in stature, there have been few questions being raised on Ajinkya Rahane’s position.

Rahane was the leader of the side when India won the Border Gavaskar trophy during the 2020-2021 season. He handled his limited resources excellently and was someone who led from the front. However, things are looking a bit bleak for Rahane.

Because of his poor performances, the fans and critics have been consistently criticizing him. His average has dropped significantly and there are many contenders to replace him. Let us have a look at-

5 players who can replace Ajinkya Rahane at the number five

1. Hanuma Vihari 

“Classic” is the term that best suits Hanuma Vihari. The batter from the South has a temperament made of steel and has been a proven performer for Team India. Without any doubt, he deserves the number five position, more than Rahane and Iyer.

During the Border Gavaskar Trophy in 2018-2019, Vihari opened up the innings for the side. He occupied the crease for a decent amount of time and helped Mayank to set the stage for the middle-order batsmen. Later on, in 2021, he battled injuries to help India pull off a famous escape at Sydney.

Vihari has scored 21 centuries in First-Class cricket and has an average of 55.50. In the Test match as well, he has a decent average of 34.20. The more chances he gets, the better batter he becomes. His contributions enable him to become the best batter for the number five position.