Veteran batter Ajinkya Rahane has revealed that he couldn't get his mind off Virat Kohli's much-discussed run-out during the day-night Test in Adelaide in 2020, and how it damaged his morale for the rest of the Test. The Adelaide Test became one of India's most humiliating moments in cricket history.
After the run-out on Day 1 of the series opener at the Adelaide Oval, Rahane says he went to the dressing room and apologized to his then-captain Virat Kohli.
With skipper Virat Kohli leading from the front with a strong half-century, India was looking to seize control of the first Test. When the terrible run-out occurred, Kohli and then-vice-captain Rahane had stitched an 88-run stand for the 4th wicket and started to take on every bowler.
Rahane pushed a Nathan Lyon delivery to mid-on and went for a run before sending Kohli back. However, the former skipper, who was running towards the danger end, was unable to return in time. As he headed back to the dressing room, he appeared frustrated.
After Virat’s dismissal, the visitors from 188/3 were restricted to 244/10.
"I don’t think I can ever forget that moment, or anyone can. When the ball hit my bat, I didn’t realize how well I had timed the ball. And I thought it was an easy single, it was an instinctive call, but when I took a couple of steps, then I realized the ball was next to Josh Hazlewood who was a mid-on. It was right under his hand," the former vice-captain said in the first episode of Voot Select's series, Bandon mein tha dum.
"Then I had to say no. Even before Kohli got out, I knew that this could be a game-changing moment and that’s when I had that reaction. I immediately said sorry to him.
"I knew it could have been the turning point in the game, and that’s what happened."
India took a 53-run lead in the first innings, but they were bowled out for just 36 runs, the lowest-ever total in Test cricket history, eventually suffering an 8-wickets loss.
The 34-year-old said that the run-out had affected his focus, but Kohli supported him and urged him to move on when he returned to the dressing room and apologized to him.
"My mind was continuously thinking of that run-out.
"Generally, I play that ball to mid-on but because of what happened 2-3 overs, my mind was completely blank.
"When I went inside the dressing room, I went to him and 'said sorry'. He said 'it's fine, these things happen, don't worry. We have the second innings, we will stitch another partnership and take the team forward'.
"But somehow, I felt from the inside that it was the moment that could change the game. Had that run-out not happened, the game could have gone in a different direction," he added.
Remarkably, India scripted one of the most extraordinary comebacks post the humiliation in Adelaide to win the series 2-1. As India broke Australia's citadel at the Gabba to write history, stand-in skipper Rahane led his men superbly from the front.
(HT INPUTS)
