Team India vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane who was recently criticized for his poor performances showed signs of coming back to form with a gritty 61 off 146 deliveries which helped India get back on track on Day 4 of the second Test match against England at Lord’s.
Former India opener Virender Sehwag was quite impressed with Rahane lauded him for his knock and recalled his heroics in the recently concluded Australia series where the Mumbai batsman led India to their second consecutive Test series down under.
“He played a really good knock. He had luck on his side as he got dropped on 39. He would be satisfied with his innings. Not happy off course but he will be satisfied after getting 60 odd runs to his credit. Had he converted that fifty into a century, he would’ve been happier,” Sehwag said on Sony Sports Network.
“I must say that we criticize him often. We shouldn’t forget the series triumph in Australia. He scored a hundred in Melbourne after India was all-out for 36 in Adelaide. India won at MCG, drew in Sydney, and won in Brisbane. I feel the series win in Australia is the biggest overseas win and it was under Rahane’s leadership,” he added.
The right-hand explosive batsman then pointed out that even though everyone criticizes Rahane, one should not forget India’s greatest Test victory on Australian soil came under him.
“We criticize him a lot but we had our greatest Test series win under his leadership,” Sehwag concluded.
After losing the openers early on Day 4, a century partnership between Pujara (45) and Rahane (61) helped India get their second innings back on track as the scoreboard reads 181/6 with Rishabh Pant (14) and Ishant Sharma (4) at the crease.
(With Sony Sports Network Inputs)
