If Ajinkya Rahane gets another game, he is a very lucky batsman: Sanjay Manjrekar

Former Indian cricketer and current commentator Sanjay Manjrekar feels that Indian vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane is not exuding confidence out in the middle, and there are players like Hanuma Vihari and Suryakumar Yadav waiting to showcase their worth.

Manjrekar even reckoned that a cricketer has an obligation to the guys who are not a part of the playing XI. The 56-year-old even added that if he had not been dropped from the Indian side, then the legendary Rahul Dravid would not have got his chance.

“You have an obligation to the guys waiting in the wings. That’s how you look at Indian cricket. If I wasn’t dropped, people like (Rahul) Dravid, and all those guys would not have come in.

Hanuma Vihari first and maybe Suryakumar Yadav. Very often you are surprised by players who are out in the reserves because you haven’t seen them and Ajinkya Rahane is not exuding confidence,” said Manjrekar in a chat on Sony Sports.

Ajinkya Rahane has got a very long rope: Sanjay Manjrekar

Sanjay Manjrekar further stated that if Ajinkya Rahane manages to play another match, he is very lucky. Adding that he wishes that the batsmen of the past were living in the current era, Manjrekar stated that Rahane has been given a very long rope by the Indian side.

“If he [Rahane] gets another game, he is a very lucky batter. I wish a lot of the other batters in the past were living in this era. He has got a very long rope. If he gets another game, that’s great for him,” said Manjrekar.

Manjrekar also said that Rahane is not getting better with the willow, and concluded by stating that just when it seems that Rahane will get back to form, he once again flatters to deceive.

“It’s not like when you give him more opportunities, he is starting to look better. The most worrying thing is that he gets an innings which you think will trigger him back into form but that never happens. So, he will be very lucky if he gets one,” concluded Sanjay Manjrekar.