The World Test Championship’s 2nd cycle begins on August 4 in Nottingham, the hosts England and India kicking off a five-match Test series. Mostly with an extra framework of the WTC cycle, India’s record in England generates much hope, and the visitors would like to rectify it better. Here is VVS Laxman About Ajinkya Rahane.
VVS Laxman About Ajinkya Rahane
Shubman Gill, Avesh Khan, and Washington Sundar have been forced out of the series, whereas Mayank Agarwal sustained an injury after being hit by a bouncer in the nets during the build-up to the first Test. With a few top-order batsmen ruled out, India is anticipated to move KL Rahul from the middle to the top of the lineup.
Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, and Virat Kohli are among India’s middle-order batsmen, all of whom have struggled in the longer format as recently. Although Pujara and Kohli are generally seen as the most important elements, India’s vice-captain Rahane will undoubtedly need to perform. Former Indian batsman VVS Laxman urged Rahane to do well against England series.
I feel Rahane must sort out is his game plan against short pitch deliveries: VVS Laxman
Laxman applauded Ajinkya Rahane in an exclusive interview on Star Sports’ Game Plan show, “I think Ajinkya Rahane is a very important member of Team India’s batting line-up. I still remember the way he batted in overseas conditions at Lords or in Melbourne, also the way he batted in South Africa. He is instrumental for team India. Whenever he is out there in the middle, he scores run, he dominates the opposition’s bowling attack.”
Laxman, on the other hand, identified a flaw in Rahane’s approach that he believes has to be improved, “But one thing I feel Ajinkya Rahane must sort out is his game plan against short pitch deliveries. You saw that in the series against New Zealand in the World Test Championship final. It was the game plan of the opposition of the bowling line up to set up with a barrel of short pitch deliveries and, Ajinkya Rahane got only one option to make a pull shot.”
“But when you play at the highest level, you also must know which ball to play the pull shot and which ball to let go of. I think that is one area Ajinkya Rahane works on and, he has got a guarantee. I am sure he can perform.”
Also read: ‘Counting My Blessings, Next Stop England’: Suryakumar Tweets
