ENG v IND 2021: Ajinkya Rahane deserves to play at home, says Virender Sehwag

Rahane scored only 109 runs at an average of 15.57 in the four Tests in England.  

By - 11 Sep, 2021

Indian Test vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane had a nightmare of a tour to England. In the four matches, the right-hander scored only 109 runs at an average of 15.57. 

Rahane has been struggling this year and has managed to score just 372 runs in 19 Test innings at an average of little under 20. 

Former Indian batsman Virender Sehwag, however, feels that the middle-order batsman deserves to play in India before being dropped. 

Read also: ENG v IND 2021: Rohit Sharma's evolution as Test opener terrific lesson for others- VVS Laxman

"I feel when your overseas tour goes bad, you should get a chance in India as well because this comes once in four years but you will play a series in India every year. If the series goes bad in India, then I will understand that the form which was bad overseas is there here as well, then he deserves it now,” Sehwag said on Sony Sports Network

The former opener added that even the best players can have a tough time and not score runs. 

"I have seen many great players who have not done anything for 8 or 9 Tests, not even a fifty and they were still persisted with and the result was they performed going ahead, scored 1200-1500 runs in a year in Test cricket,” he added. 

Sehwag concluded by saying that the selectors should persist with Rahane and give him an opportunity in home conditions. 

"Everyone goes through a bad phase. The question is how you behave with your player in a bad phase, whether you back him or leave him. According to me, Ajinkya Rahane should get a chance when the next series happens in India. If he doesn't perform there, you can say - thank you very much for your contribution,” he signed off. 

However, Rahane does not boast an incredible home record and averages only 36.57.
 

By - 11 Sep, 2021

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