In Virat Kohli’s absence, Ajinkya Rahane should bat at number four, says Sanjay Manjrekar

Sanjay Manjrekar, the former Indian cricketer, reckons that Test vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane should bat at number four in Virat Kohli’s absence during the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy. The 32-year-old Kohli won’t be a part of the four-match series after the Day-Night opening Test at the Adelaide Oval, starting December 17, as he would be going on paternity leave.

Kohli, not being there, is expected to be a huge blow for the Indian team as per a number of experts and pundits. Manjrekar, who made his comeback to commentary in the ongoing ODI series, feels that instead of five, Rahane may bat at four. The veteran also put forth Rahane’s impressive numbers in the longest format to back his comments on the batter’s promotion up the order.

As the openers, Manjrekar’s choices were Prithvi Shaw and Mayank Agarwal. In place of Rahane, he called for Hanuma Vihari to bat at five. The commentator also wished for Shubman Gill to get a look in. However, above all, he didn’t mince any words in words in saying that Kohli’s absence would be a ‘massive setback’ for the Indian team in the last three Tests.

Ajinkya Rahane has been averaging more than 50 in his last nine Tests, says Manjrekar

“Mayank Agarwal walks in as opener in Tests, let’s assume that Rohit is not playing the first two Tests, I would go for Prithvi Shaw as the second opener. Let’s see how it goes and if Shaw shows the poor form as he did in the IPL, then Shubman Gill can be looked at.

“In Virat’s absence, Ajinkya Rahane should step up and bat at number four. Hanuma Vihari can bat at number five, if Shubman is tried in the middle order, then he should bat at number six,” Manjrekar was quoted as saying in Times Now.

“Rahane has been averaging more than 50 in his last nine Tests, we will have to wait and see whether Rahane steps up, in fact, it’s a question of the entire batting line-up stepping up, we have only seen them in white-ball cricket, Kohli not being there, after the first Test is a massive setback, ” he added.

India are currently busy taking part in the three-match ODI series, which they are trailing 0-1, followed by a three-match T20I series. In between the international fixtures, the visitors will also play a couple of warm-up matches.