Ajinkya Rahane is not mentally disturbed, the problem is with his footwork: Pragyan Ojha

Ajinkya Rahane was dismissed for just 4 runs in the second innings of the 1st Test against New Zealand. The right-hander has endured an abysmal run with the willow in 2021, averages below 20, and has not scored a single Test century in the whole year.

And, former Indian cricketer Pragyan Ojha has offered his thoughts on Rahane’s poor run. Ojha feels that Rahane is not mentally disturbed, but has an issue with his footwork. Adding that a lot of former cricketers have also pointed out to this issue, Ojha opined that when a batsman’s footwork is not proper, he will get into trouble.

“Don’t think Ajinkya Rahane is mentally disturbed, but, looking at the technical part, his footwork is an issue. It has not been proper and a lot of former cricketers have also pointed towards the same. When your footwork is not proper, you are bound to get into trouble,” said Ojha while speaking on Cricbuzz.

Pressure on Ajinkya Rahane will increase now: Pragyan Ojha

Pragyan Ojha also feels that the pressure on Rahane to score runs will increase after his failure in the 1st Test. Adding that a junior batter in Shreyas Iyer has scored a hundred on Test debut, Ojha felt that there is also Hanuma Vihari who is knocking on the door as well.

“Pressure is always there but it increases when you become a senior batter and when you know that a junior batter has come in and scored a hundred on debut. There is someone like a (Hanuma) Vihari, who scores well whenever he gets an opportunity,” added Ojha.

Pragyan Ojha further felt that Tim Southee and Kyle Jamieson pressurized Cheteshwar Pujara. Adding that the ball was moving around, Ojha concluded by stating that an ‘out of box question’ in the form of a bouncer proved to be the right hander’s undoing.

“Southee and Jamieson constantly kept Pujara under pressure. They knew that Pujara was uncertain, whether the ball was coming in or going out. Pujara was thinking about how to play the pitched up deliveries.

The ball moving around wasn’t helping him either. And then, he was asked an out-of-the-box question by a bouncer. This shows how well New Zealand have planned. They know what tactics to use,” concluded Ojha.