With 3 & 8 in two innings, Ajinkya Rahane has drawn blanks in the IND vs WI Test series. Rahane returned as the vice-captain on the back of an impressive IPL 2023 campaign and two good knocks in the WTC Final against Australia. However, former India opener Wasim Jaffer isn’t happy with Rahane. He has raised concerns about his inconsistency that saw him getting dropped from India Cricket Team.
“Rahane will have to show consistency in his game, which has been his problem even though he has played 80-90 Tests (84). Consistency has been an issue. He will have to overcome it. Because India have a good captaincy option in him after Rohit Sharma is done. Ajinkya Rahane will have to make runs. Then everything else will follow,” Jaffer told media during an interaction organised by Jio Cinema on Friday.
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Wasim Jaffer said it was his inconsistency with the bat that robbed India of their next Test captain. Had he continued his form after triumphing in Australia, instead of Rohit Sharma, he would have led India after Virat Kohli called it quits.
“If his form was great from that Australia series after that 36 all out, the way he led, scored a hundred in Melbourne. Had his form remained the same, he would have been the next Test captain. But he lost his form and got dropped,” he said.
“However, he reinvented himself in the IPL and got a chance in the WTC final. He was appointed the vice-captain as well. The Indian selectors see a good leader in him. He still has age on his side but he needs to score runs, if he does not then he will find it difficult,” he added.
No way home for Cheteshwar Pujara?
However, unlike Ajinkya Rahane, Jaffer believes it will be difficult for Cheteshwar Pujara to make his way back. As the selectors look at Shreyas Iyer, Shubman Gill and Yashasvi Jaiswal as the future mainstays, Pujara may not make a comeback.
“As far as Pujara is concerned, I feel it will be a little difficult going forward. You also have to start looking at the new boys for the next World Test Championship cycle. Shreyas Iyer and Rishabh Pant will come back. Yashasvi Jaiswal has been successful. (Shubman) Gill will play in all three formats. I feel it will be difficult for Pujara to make a comeback,” Wasim Jaffer said.
Shubman Gill must change strategy
Jaffer said Gill will have to learn the trade of batting at No. 3, especially on slow and low pitches. As Gill is being considered a long-term replacement for Pujara, he has to take the onus. So far, in two innings, Gill has flopped in both.
“Looking at the bigger picture, he wants to bat there for a longer period. But the start has not been the way he wanted. In this Test match and in this innings, he had a good chance, the wicket was good, (the team) had got a good start. I felt he played a little loose and he obviously will be disappointed with that dismissal, and that is where he needs to tighten up. He likes the ball coming on to the bat. Because of so much of white-ball cricket he is used to hitting on the rise,” he said.
“He wants that pace which is found in white-ball cricket. But in red-ball cricket, on wickets like these, probably in India when he plays, it is not easy to play on the rise. He just needs to understand that and improve his game for those conditions.”
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