Published: Jan 05, 2018, 03:09 PM (IST)
Edited: Jan 05, 2018, 03:09 PM (IST)
India tour of South Africa commenced on Friday. South Africa won the toss, elected to bat and Bhuvneshwar Kumar destroyed their top order. Virat Kohli dropped a bombshell at the toss. The team sheet did not have vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane in the XI. Rahane has been India’s best batsman overseas, but form has eluded him in the recent past.
Rahane, who led India to the Dharamsala Test win last year, had a miserable run with the red ball. He managed 49, 0, 45 and 0 for Mumbai in the Ranji Trophy and flopped against Sri Lanka. While his colleagues feasted on the Lankan bowling, Rahane managed only 17 runs from 5 innings.
2017 was Rahane’s worst year as a batsman. He averaged 34.62. However, Rahane’s overseas average reads 53.44 and it propels to 69.66 in South Africa.
Twitterati were clearly unhappy with Rahane’s exclusion.
Rahane is the vice captain
He lead the team in the absence of Virat
Seriously not done— Sarthak (@spyython) January 5, 2018
I agree Rohit Sharma is in smoking form but that still does not, IMHO, warrant dropping Rahane!! #IndvsSA
— Shantanu Kanade (@ssk3107) January 5, 2018
The rise of Rohit Sharma in Indian cricket is acceptable but the fall of Ajinkya Rahane should not be by any means.#INDvSA
— Umang Pabari (@UPStatsman) January 5, 2018
https://twitter.com/BCCI_Men/status/949193845614379008
https://twitter.com/rahil4798/status/949191731941031936
Rahane’s absence will be felt in the slip cordon too. Remember, India’s record in slips isn’t very good. Best hands dropped. #SAvIND
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) January 5, 2018
https://twitter.com/Kahaanify/status/949190479098265601
https://twitter.com/BeingMsdian25/status/949191785053499392
https://twitter.com/SpiceBoxofEarth/status/949205655885352960
Wow, this Indian team not short of surprises. But they are backing words with actions. Playing the all-rounder and no Rahane is a huge call
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) January 5, 2018
Ajinkya Rahane's average of 54.66 in Tests outside Asia is the best among all the Indian batsmen. (Min.10 Tests played outside Asia) #INDvSA
— Umang Pabari (@UPStatsman) January 5, 2018
Rahane dropped. Pandya in, Bumrah debut as 3rd pacer. This is a mad-hoc selection on the face of it. #SAvInd
— Chetan Narula (@chetannarula) January 5, 2018
Choosing flat track bully of limited over’s cricket over a test specialist like Rahane who have scored runs in alien conditions. Only possible in India #SAvIND
— Sayan Basu (@SayanBasuTweets) January 5, 2018
Pathetic team selection they dropped India’s most consistent overseas performer Rahane & dropped KL who is >> Dhawan in test matches any day #IndvSA
— ßєคɾɖ Guყ (@BeingFlicked) January 5, 2018
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Rohit Sharma’s inclusion may raise eyebrows, but he has been in exceptional form across formats. He scored 217 runs against Sri Lanka from 3 innings. In the last tour, he registered his third ODI double-hundred and the joint-fastest T20I hundred.
