'It was a red flag for me' - Justin Langer reveals Steve Waugh mentored Ajinkya Rahane during 2020-21 Border-Gavaskar Trophy
"Not Steve Waugh, the iceman and we saw that calmness in Rahane, we saw the way he played in that series and when I knew he was talking to Steve, it was red flags for me,” Langer said.
Former Australia coach Justin Langer has revealed that Steve Waugh advised India batter Ajinkya Rahane ahead of the 2020–21 Border-Gavaskar Trophy. While commentating on the Day 3 of the ICC World Test Championship final, Langer recalled that Waugh called him to inform that he had been mentoring Rahane.
Rahane made a stunning comeback to the Indian Test team after being benched for the home series against Sri Lanka in March 2022. Playing his first international game since then, he scored 89 on Day 3 of the ICC World Test Championship final against Australia at The Oval.
Rahane's knock helped the team avoid follow-on in an otherwise concerning performance for the Indian side in London. Meanwhile, Langer disclosed about the contribution that the legendary Waugh made to Rahane's calm approach.
I knew Rahane was talking to Steve; it was a red flag for me: Justin Langer
The 52-year-old stated that Waugh opened up to him and admitted that he was regularly talking to the India batter and counselling him as well. Notably, Rahane's century in the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne, led the Indian team to a remarkable comeback in that series.
“Before the series started Steve Waugh, my hero, he rang me and said I was going to be transparent. I wanna be honest I’m having some conversations with Rahane…doing a bit of mentoring him leading to that series. Not Steve Waugh, the iceman and we saw that calmness in Rahane, we saw the way he played in that series and when I knew he was talking to Steve, it was red flags for me,” Langer told on Star Sports.
Meawhile, Rahane scored 89 runs off 129 balls, scoring 11 fours and a six. The senior Indian batter also suffered injuries on his fingers and the head on Day 2 and Day 3 of the WTC Final. Rahane was dropped from the Indian team on the back of some average performances in January 2022, he was only in the Indian side owing to injuries to Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant.
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