Former Indian batting coach Sanjay Bangar heaped praises on India’s middle-order batter Ajinkya Rahane after his performance on Day 1 of the ongoing Boxing Day Test against South Africa in Centurion.
Ajinkya Rahane, who has been going through a difficult phase in his career, got off to a brilliant start on Day 1 of the Boxing Day Test, as he remained unbeaten on 40. He smashed 8 boundaries and also formed a crucial partnership with centurion KL Rahul in the final session of the opening day.
Before coming into the Boxing Day Test match, his place in the playing XI of the Indian side and he had even lost out on the vice-captaincy of the Test team in the lead-up to the South Africa tour.
His selection in the playing XI for India came out 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. However, the Indian team management showed immense faith in the senior batter and preferred to go with him instead of Shreyas Iyer and Hanuma Vihari.
Speaking to Star Sports on Rahane’s performances, Sanjay Bangar said: “At times, certain events can actually relieve you, maybe, lessen the burden a bit. Him being relieved of the vice-captaincy would have sent a particular signal to him, which obviously plays on every players’ mind. He has come out all guns blazing. He has been very positive in his footwork, he has put away all the bad balls,”
He added:
“He is the sort of player who likes to get good and quick starts. That was very similar to the way Rahul Dravid used to start his innings. He used to like to get to, say 20, in quick time so that there is less pressure on him. And that’s why Rahane also shows a similar pattern. All the innings where he has been successful, he has gotten off to flyers and then settled in nicely,”
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