'Ajinkya Rahane showed great intent' - Vikram Rathour showers praise on the Indian vice-captain

The third Test in Ranchi saw the South African fast bowlers make early in-roads into the Indian top-order for the very first time. Kagiso Rabada bowled with great hostility and precision to knock over Mayank Agarwal and Cheteshwar Pujara while Anrich Nortje claimed the prized wicket of Virat Kohli to reduce the hosts to 3-39 in the first hour of play.

It looked like finally, we have a game on our hands. But, Rohit Sharma and Ajinkya Rahane scripted India’s revival by stitching what is now a record 4th-wicket-stand for the hosts vs South Africa. Rahane’s intent was the most striking thing of his innings. The Indian vice-captain batted with a great positive mindset and unleashed a stunning counter-attack to the South African bowlers. 

Vikram Rathour hails Ajinkya Rahane

During his 135-ball 83*, the Indian vice-captain stroked 11 fours and one six, and his intent garnered high praise from the batting coach, Vikram Rathour, “Ajinkya Rahane showed great intent today. Whenever he bats with this intent, he looks a really good player,” said Rathour in the post-match conference.

While Rahane was at it, Rohit Sharma was quietly doing what he has been throughout the series: see-off the pacers, annihilate the spinners. Rohit was very circumspect against the likes of Rabada and Nortje in the first session, but as soon as the spinners came into the attack, the right-hander took the full monty out of them.

Sharma broke Shimron Hetmayer’s record for most sixes hit by a batsman in a Test series besides also becoming only the second Indian opener after Sunil Gavaskar to notch up more than two hundred in a single Test series, and Vikram Rathour feels that Rohit has put the opening debate to rest.

“I always believed he is too good a player not to be playing in any format. It was a good call to make him open. With the number of runs he has scored, he has settled the issue for the time being. Somebody of his experience and the kind of cricket he plays, if he starts coming good top of the order, it changes everything for the Indian team, even when you’re touring.” said Rathour.

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