Hoping to win the maiden away series against South Africa, the Virat Kohli led Indian cricket team decided to back their senior batsman Ajinkya Rahane ahead of Shreyas Iyer and Hanuma Vihari. This is a crucial series for both teams as it will impact the points on both sides that they need for the World Test Championship (WTC).
Rahane’s selection in the playing XI has come as a big surprise as the experienced batter has been going through a lean patch with the bat ever since he scored a match-winning hundred against Australia in last year’s Boxing Day Test. On the other hand, Shreyas Iyer impressed one and all with his solid debut against New Zealand in the Kanpur Test.
“We will bat first. Runs on the board playing away home has been our strength. The pitch tends to quicken up here on Day 2-3,” Kohli told broadcasters after winning the toss.
“Our success away from home started from the series we played here last time. Very challenging place to play. South African unit is always strong and they know the conditions.
“The prep has been wonderful. Quite lucky to get the centre-wicket for practice. We are playing four bowlers and an all-rounder; Siraj, Shami, Bumrah, Ashwin and Thakur is the all-rounder,” Kohli added.
Virat Kohli’s decision to bat first in the match was bold anyway, and with this, him backing Ajinkya Rahane, who hasn’t been able to perform up to the expectations, has disappointed the fans. Both the senior batsmen Ajinkya Rahane and Cheteshwar Pujara were backed picked for the first game against South Africa, but there was no place for the in-form batsmen Shreyas Iyer or Hanuman Vihari.
Meanwhile, fans on social media were left disappointed with the inclusion of Ajinkya Rahane in the playing XI of the Indian side. From experts to fans, everyone took to Twitter and came up with mixed reactions to it.
Here, check out the reactions of Twitterati on this:
Vihari has too much preparation and Iyer has too much form. Best to pick Rahane.#INDvsSA
— Ramesh Srivats (@rameshsrivats) December 26, 2021
India have given a huge vote of confidence to Ajinkya Rahane. He will know he’s been lucky.
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) December 26, 2021
Shreyas Iyer, sterling century on debut, dropped after one more Test to make way for Rahane. The vicissitudes of fortune!
— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) December 26, 2021
We don’t know what’s in store for Ajinkya Rahane right now. But let that not cloud what he did the last time he walked out to bat in South Africa — 48 at Wanderers in 2018 (3rd Test).
It was an immensely gutsy knock on a very difficult pitch vs Morkel, Philander, Rabada, Ngidi.
— KSR (@KShriniwasRao) December 25, 2021
Rahane’s reward for captaining a winning tour of Australia is that he will never get dropped. #SAvIND
— Dennis (@DennisCricket_) December 26, 2021
Ajinkya Rahane in Boxing Day tests :
51*, 96, 147, 48, 34, 1, 112, 27*
Rahane is in playing XI today ?#INDvsSA
— Himanshu (@18Himansu) December 26, 2021
*place in playing 11*
Vihari/iyer Lord rahane With
With form video of selectors pic.twitter.com/qyetXYLVXq— JuiceSprite Boobrah ?? (@Yorker_Gawd) December 26, 2021
So still Rahane no Vihari.!Vihari played some good knock with India A.!Rahane need to step up.! Excited to see Siraj-Shami-Bumrah trio.!
— Deep Point (@ittzz_spidey) December 26, 2021
I wish my parents have the same trust on me as that of Virat Kohli having on Rahane.
— Akshat (@AkshatOM10) December 26, 2021
Ajinkya Rahane in Boxing Day tests :
51*, 96, 147, 48, 34, 1, 112, 27*
Rahane is in playing XI today ?#INDvsSA
— Umakant (@Umakant_27) December 26, 2021
This guy would still be better option than overrated Ajinkya Rahane anyday! #INDvsSA pic.twitter.com/9tY3CWVc1W
— Shercasm (@Shercasmed) December 26, 2021
Last time when Ajinkya Rahane played a boxing day test. #SAvIND pic.twitter.com/EYTHbhQXfU
— Akshat (@AkshatOM10) December 26, 2021
Ready for team man rahane to score another 30 runs pic.twitter.com/3FwX5ZleY2
— aarnav13 (@aarnav_13) December 26, 2021
Teams:
India (Playing XI): KL Rahul, Mayank Agarwal, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli(c), Ajinkya Rahane, Rishabh Pant(w), Ravichandran Ashwin, Shardul Thakur, Mohammed Shami, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj
South Africa (Playing XI): Dean Elgar(c), Aiden Markram, Keegan Petersen, Rassie van der Dussen, Temba Bavuma, Quinton de Kock(w), Wiaan Mulder, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi
Also Read: 10 Tweets That Prove Fans Are Very Angry With Shreyas Iyer’s Exclusion
