Poll: Has India found a new VVS in Ajinkya Rahane

Ajinkya Rahane has scored hundreds in New Zealand, England, Australia, Sri Lanka and now in India exhibiting time and again that he is capable of executing his skills even under immense pressure situations. With India usually opting to go with the 5-bowler theory, Rahane batting at number 5 has to many times bat with the lower order and the tail-enders. This art can take years to master however he has already shown great maturity in his relatively young Test career having batted with the lower order on several occasions. VVS Laxman was a genius known for his rescue acts and had to invariably do it in the company of the lower order since he batted at number 6. Rahane is surely making his presence felt playing a similar role for this young Indian Test team.

A look at some of the most memorable knocks of Laxman and Rahane suggest a similarity between the two. VVS scored 17 Test hundreds of which 15 featured in matches that were either draws or wins for India. Rahane has 6 Test hundreds and none of them featured in a losing cause. Rahane’s 1st hundred was against New Zealand in 2014 on an away tour and it put India in a commanding position to win the Test. He top scored for the team with a classy 118 that helped India post 438 in their first innings after having bundled out the home team for 192.

India at one stage was 165/5 and he batted with the lower order enabling the team to take a huge lead. VVS’s 3rd Test hundred did something similar for the team. Against the West Indies at St. John’s in 2002 he top scored for his team with a brilliant 130 as India batted first. From 257/6 India managed to reach 513 at the end of the innings. Both of these matches were drawn however the two knocks put the team in commanding position enabling it to dictate terms over the opposition.

One of the greenest surfaces ever witnessed at the Lord’s greeted the Indian side for the second Test against England in July 2014. The team was precariously placed at 145/7, but Rahane scored one of the greatest hundreds ever seen at the Home of Cricket and rescued India. His knock of 103 helped India post 295 in the first innings of the match. India beat England by 95 runs and the victory margin highlights the importance of Rahane’s contribution.

Also Read – Ajinkya Rahane joins elite list of Indians with twin centuries

VSS had done something similar against South Africa on a tricky Durban wicket in 2010. India was bowled out for 205 and in reply the Proteas were bundled out for 131 giving India a crucial advantage. However, the visiting team was struggling at 56/4 in the second innings and needed an extraordinary knock of 96 from Laxman to set the home side a target of 303. India eventually won the match by 87 runs and VVS’s effort with the last 3 men made the difference.

Rahane’s other memorable performances include a 147 in the first innings against Australia in 2014 at the MCG and 48 in the second innings which helped India save the match. His 126 in India’s second innings against Sri Lanka at Colombo in 2015 helped the team win the match and level the series 1-1;  India ultimately went on to win the series by 2-1 with a victory in the 3rd Test as well. He made 209 runs on an away tour to South Africa in 2013 which included a 51* and 96 at Durban against a bowling attack that had Dale Steyn, Morne Morkel and Vernon Philander. In the ongoing 4th Test he again rescued India scoring a marvelous ton in the company of the lower order and coupled it exceptionally with a hundred in the second innings, which made him the 5th Indian batsman to score twin centuries in a Test.

VVS Laxman played 134 Tests in a long and distinguished career in international cricket than spanned more than 15 years. His knocks of 281 in the Kolkata epic, 73* in the tense Mohali run chase, 148 in the great comeback at Adelaide, 103 in another run chase at Colombo, 79 in the historic win at Perth and many more are stuff of legends. Rahane is only into his 3rd year in Test cricket however has shown great promise. Greater things are expected from him and it is may be too early to start comparing him with the greats of the previous generation however he is surely on the right path to achieve greatness.

We’d like to know from fans if they feel India has found a new VVS in Rahane or otherwise.

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