Former Indian cricketer Wasim Jaffer was delighted with the way Ajinkya Rahane played on Day 1 of the Boxing Day Test against South Africa in Centurion, saying that lot of people wrote him off but he played beautifully.
Ajinkya Rahane’s innings on the Day 1 of the ongoing first Test against South Africa was one of the biggest positives for Team India.
Coming into the match there were a lot of speculations about his form and many even questioned his place in the playing XI for the first Test. However, he justified his selection and showed great intent for his unbeaten 40 runs on Day 1 in Centurion.
Read Also: WATCH – “Have surprised myself with how calm I have been”, KL Rahul after 122* in Centurion
After India lost skipper Virat Kohli for 35 runs, Ajinkya Rahane joined hands with KL Rahul, who scored 122* runs, and together stitched an unbeaten 73 runs partnership for the fourth wicket. The former Indian Test vice-captain looked very positive and smashed 8 boundaries.
Speaking to ESPNCricinfo, Wasim Jaffer said that when Ajinkya Rahane plays as he did on Day 1 of the Centurion Test against South Africa, he looks a different player and is a treat to watch.
He hoped senior Indian batter to continue playing like this on Day 2 as he looked very assured of his defense and attacking shots and was also leaving the balls nicely.
“When he (Rahane) plays like that, he looks a different player. Then a few innings go by where he comes back to being a little bit defensive and that surprises everyone. I don’t know why he changes his approach.
“But when he bats like this, it is such a treat to watch. I hope he carries on tomorrow and bats like the old Rahane we know. He is very assured of his defense and his attacking shots. He is leaving the ball really nicely,” Wasim Jaffer said.
Read Also: Virat Kohli preoccupied with scoring runs off the front foot- Sanjay Bangar
Wasim Jaffer pointed out that before the match many people wrote him off but Ajinkya Rahane came out and played beautifully and stood tall for his side.
“There is so much talk of him being dropped and a lot of people wrote him off but he came out and played beautifully. Very nice to see that on such an important day of a Test match, he stood tall,” he said.
Coming to the match, Team India rode on KL Rahul’s sensational century and ended Day 1 at 272/4 with opener and Ajinkya Rahane unbeaten at the scores of 122 and 40 respectively.
(ESPNCricinfo inputs)
