India’s senior batsman Ajinkya Rahane, who led the Indian cricket team in the absence of the regular skipper Virat Kohli in the first Test match, has found himself at the receiving end of criticism. Lack of runs from Rahane’s bat has led to fingers being pointed at him and his place in the Indian Test team, especially after young debutant Shreyas Iyer smashed a stunning century and a fifty in the first two innings of his Test career.
Moreover, Rahane’s captaincy was also criticized by many as Shreyas Iyer and Axar Patel’s heroics also went in vain as the game ended in a draw. A lot of decisions that Rahane took didn’t work in favor of the team and backfired at the Men in Blue.
However, highlighting his leadership qualities, the Indian skipper Virat Kohli, who will be returning to the side for the second test match, defended his deputy after India played out a frustrating draw in the first Test match at Kanpur.
Speaking at the traditional press conference ahead of the 2nd Test on Thursday, Virat Kohli backed Rahane-led Indian side and said that the team tried everything to kick-start the series on a winning note. He said:
“I watched the game and I think we tried everything we could as a team. Obviously, everyone has a different way of approaching things,”
He added:
“I probably would have been able to answer that if I was in that situation but I was not so I know that the team tried everything that they could and Jinx has always brought up great ideas to make sure that, you know, we put the opposition under pressure with strategy, with field placings and rotating the bowlers as well. A great example of that was in Australia as well when we played [there],”
The second match between India and New Zealand will also be Kohli’s first match after he stepped down as the T20I captain of the Indian side. Further, talking about the current situation and the series decider, Virat said:
“Sometimes when you are not able to pull off a result you also have to give credit to the opposition for batting out 10-12 overs in the end with the last wicket. It was a very good effort from them. So we have to be realistic about the scenario, realistic about the situation. Obviously, you look to improve on things you still can and you find ways of winning and that’s been the essence of our team regardless of who’s been in charge,”
