Former New Zealand cricketer Simon Doull feels that India's Test vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane’s time has passed and youngsters should get more chances in the whites.
Over the years, Ajinkya Rahane has been one of the main batters for the Indian Test side. The right-hander has many times bailed the team out of the trouble and there was a time when hardly anyone doubted his ability.
He drew rich praises across the world when he, in Virat Kohli's absence, led the battered and bruised Indian side to a series win in Australia in 2020-21 and also scored a century in MCG to help India get level in the series.
Read Also: CSA announces revised schedule of India's tour of South Africa
However, since then Ajinkya Rahane has failed to make an impact with the match and his numbers in Test cricket since then have become one of the major concerns for Team India.
The Mumbaikar averages just over 19 this year in the longest format of the game. He recently missed the second Test against New Zealand due to an injury, which invited some speculation about his form too.
Many feel that it was a respectable way for the team management to drop him and it’ll be difficult for Ajinkya Rahane to make a comeback in the Indian line-up given the bench strength and talent in the side.
New Zealand's Simon Doull, while admitting that Ajinkya Rahane is a ‘champion human being’, pointed out that players with better numbers have been dropped from the side. He added that even though Ajinkya Rahane has a good record overseas, but his time seems to have passed.
“It’s a bit like airplane loyalty card points, at some point, it’s going to run out. I know Rahane is a champion human being, I know he is a huge part of this setup and part of the leadership group. But players with far better numbers over 29 innings have been dropped from this team. I know he has got a good record overseas but his time seems to have passed," Simon Doull said on Star Sports.
Doull pointed out that Ajinkya Rahane has been getting out similar manner and he’s not sure whether the right-handed batter is the same player like he used to be 3-4 years ago.
He added that young players who are knocking on the doors of selectors with their performances deserve an opportunity.
“He is getting out in a similar fashion and I just don’t know if he is as good a player as he was three or four years ago. When the young guys are coming along and kicking the door down like they are doing at the moment, they deserve an opportunity," he said.
Read Also: Akshar Patel has potential to play for India for a long time- Virat Kohli
Simon Doull said Ajinkya Rahane averaging just 24 in the last 29 innings is not good enough as per the Indian standards and the time has come to bring a young player in the side.
“If (Rahane) was averaging 34 or 35 in the last 29 innings with a couple of centuries, I would have said keep him in the squad. But when you are averaging 24 with one century in 29 innings, I just don’t think that’s good enough.
“From the standards that India set, these numbers are well and truly below par and the time has come to bring in a young player. I know it’s a tough introduction, but I think I will run with Shreyas Iyer," he said.
With the Indian set tour South Africa for 3-Test and 3-ODI series later this month, it remains to be seen if Ajinkya Rahane will find a place in the Test squad or not.
(Star Sports inputs)
