Twitter Reactions: Ajinkya Rahane hits form to resurrect India’s innings with a fine 81

After a long interval, Team India donned the whites to take on the Windies in the first Test at Antigua. On a day that was affected by rain, Jason Holder won the toss and opted to bowl first. With a good amount of moisture in the pitch, the Windies bowlers made the most of the new ball. India seemed to be in all sorts of trouble but Ajinkya Rahane came to the rescue with a great knock.

His form was one of the biggest concerns heading into this game. In the last few months, he was given several opportunities but disappointed more often than not. However, for someone to play that after losing Mayank Agarwal, Cheteshwar Pujara and Virat Kohli early was indeed special. Kemar Roach struck with the first two blows in the 5th over of the game. While the opener got out for five, the number three could only get two runs.

Then, the skipper Virat Kohli hit two gorgeous looking boundaries. But, little did he know that he was being set-up by Shannon Gabriel. A wide delivery bowled by the pacer after this was chased by Virat. The 30-year-old didn’t bother keeping it down and hit it straight to the gully fielder and walked back to the pavilion for 9. At this stage, India was struggling at 25/3.

Ajinkya Rahane partners with KL Rahul, Hanuma Vihari to put things back in place

However, KL Rahul kept going strong from one end. On this occasion, he had a point to prove and he didn’t disappoint as much. But just as he was looking set for a big score, he tried to glance one down the leg-side. That went straight into the hands of the wicket-keeper and it ended up being a soft dismissal after a well-made 44. Ajinkya Rahane, on the other hand, had his own share of luck.

But he made the most of his opportunity. After he was dropped on 40, he went on to add another 41 runs before Shannon Gabriel dismissed him for 81. Hanuma Vihari played the second fiddle and mustered 32 runs. India now has Rishabh Pant unbeaten on 20 in the company of Ravindra Jadeja. They finished the day with a score of 203/6 and it all depends on these two men on how big the total will be on Day 2. Twitterati was all praise for Ajinkya Rahane for his knock.

Here is how Twitterati reacted:

Lowest Test average for a Top-5 batsman in the last two years: (Prior to this game)

22.52 – KL Rahul
24.26 – Ajinkya Rahane

Rahane (81) and Rahul (44) finished as the top scorers on India’s first day of the World Test championship. #WIvIND pic.twitter.com/vav0Hsx2Rv

— Wesley00005 (@Wesley000051) August 23, 2019

Virat and shastri is out of their mind. It can not be that you are playing with 6 batsman and Rohit is in reserve when he is in good form. What is in their bloody mind. This is bloody test not T 20. Grow up . Let’s not come the internal rift in cricket playing for Country #WIvIND

— Ashit (@Ashit34309356) August 23, 2019

Virat has Bumrah,
Kane has Boult,
Faf has Rabada and
Root has Archer.
Now these top 4 teams will rule world test cricket. Starc has to step up to help Australia. #WIvIND #SLvNZ #AUSvENG

— . (@desidalma) August 23, 2019

Think about it. Rohit Bumrah and Hardik play all 3 formats. They need rest. Even Kohli does, but no one to captain at home. Maybe Ashwin/Che?#WIvIND #WIvsIND

— Stadium Reports (@deludedindfan) August 23, 2019

India would have been bowled out by now if Jofra Archer was playing for West Indies instead of England . Phew! #AUSvENG #WIvIND #Ashes

— Mujtaba Ibrahim (@Mujtaba023) August 23, 2019

Something seems to be cooking here, and it doesn’t smell nice. #AshwinOmission #WIvIND

— vaidya (@aydiav) August 23, 2019

How come these 2 Players were selected ahead of Rohit Sharma ???#WIvIND… This is almost like dropping Sachin Tendulkar…. #Saaho #Ashes19 #INDvsWI pic.twitter.com/8YlSA0OBsY

— Sachin Babu (@SachinB58290576) August 23, 2019

So Rahana finally scored some Decent runs!!! #Ufff #INDvsWI #WIvIND

— anand r (@anand_raks) August 23, 2019

Kohli , Pujara , Rahane .. Bumrah,Shami,Ishant

The only test players we can keep trust upon in overseas Test. #INDvsWI #WIvIND

— Loyi (@samadam28) August 23, 2019

What is the eligibility criteria for getting into the team’s XI ?

Shouldn’t have any personal rivarly with the captain ????.#WIvIND

— Akhil Rebelli (@akhilrebelli) August 23, 2019

Sir rahane top scored for team under pressure situations… Hey haters talk nah #WIvIND

— Rahane haters ko bhagao (@rahaneswarrior) August 23, 2019

Ajinkya Rahane showed some class in the first test against the West Indies. KL Rahul got out after a steady start to 44. #WIvIND ????????????????

— SK SHAAN (@sk__shaan) August 23, 2019

Just came to this abhorring realization that R Ashwin not picked for yesterday’s test. Oh Shastri ! Oh Kohli, what a tremendous batsman but a jhandu leader and tactician. And the other Jhandu , Rishabh Pant still gets a game ????‍♂️????‍♂️ man management and eye for talent is???????? #INDvsWI

— Parijat Sourabh (@SourabhPool) August 23, 2019

#Ashwin not in the playing XI Can see the ego and arrogance of Virat Kohli on Ashwin after the Mankading incident in IPL.Kohli mocked angrily on Ashwin,such is the Kohli’s arrogance.only Rohit Sharma able to survive against Kohli due to his stupendous performance.#INDvsWI

— Aman Singh (@amansin0209) August 23, 2019

Your biggest match winner of past decade is out :- Ashwin
Your worst batsman in the last 2 years is still in :- KL Rahul

Politics played by Shasthri-Kohli could not have been more obvious than this.#WeWantAshwin#INDvsWI

— shriram hemaraj (@shriramtweet) August 23, 2019