Tuesday, 8 May, was a mixed day for Rajasthan Royals captain Ajinkya Rahane. Though he was selected to lead the Indian side in the one-off Test against debutant Afghanistan, in the absence of regular captain Virat Kohli, he was dropped from the 16-man one day international squad bound for England.
He was part of India's 50-over squad during the South Africa tour, with Kohli projecting him as a possible No 4 for next year's World Cup.
Rahane started off the ODI series in South Africa remarkably well with an 86-ball 79. He, along with the skipper Kohli, stitched a 189-run partnership to see India off to a great start in the limited over series in the ‘Rainbow Nation’. But the next four innings only yielded scores of 11, 8, 8 and 34*.
Rahane became a part of the ODI set up on the back of a controversy during the three-match Test series, where his exclusion from the first two Tests weren’t well received equally by the cricketing fraternity as well as the fans. Mind it, Rahane was India's best batsman on their overseas run in 2014 and 2015. Eventually he made a comeback in the third Test to score a crucial 48 in the second innings to seal an Indian victory.
Prior to the South Africa tour, the Mumbaikar has enjoyed a golden run in the ODIs, in the limited opportunity he has got. But yet he hasn’t been able to cement his spot in the ODI side.
Rahane’s golden period with the bat started last year in June in the Caribbean, where he smashed a run-a-ball 103 at Port of Spain and also went onto score three half centuries in the 5-match ODI series, while opening the batting.
But apparently scoring 336 runs in five games at an average of 67.20 and become the top scorer in the series is not enough to guarantee you a place in the playing XI.
Rahane was excluded from the ODI series that followed against Sri Lanka. He was only later included in the squad after regular opener Shikhar Dhawan opted out of the series.
Later, when Australia came to India for a 5-match ODI series, it was again Rahane, who peaked at the right time, along with Rohit Sharma, to overcome the Aussies 4-1. Rahane slammed four fifties and three century stands with Rohit Sharma. He scored 244 runs at an average of 48.80 in five matches.
But Rahane’s hot form and consistent run was derailed once Shikhar Dhawan made himself available for selection. Dhawan returning meant he would partner Rohit Sharma at the top of the batting order, as the selectors were not willing to put Rahane anywhere except the opening slot.
With the century at Kingsmead in Durban on 1 February 2018, Rahane became the third batsman to score five consecutive ODI fifties for India. But that doesn’t matter because whatever he does his future in the limited over side will always be unsure.
With Kohli opting to go with Rahane in South Africa at the number four position, it was seen as a welcome move, keeping the 2019 World Cup in England in mind. Rahane who plays pace better will always be a good weapon in the batting armoury, especially in seam-friendly conditions in England.
Yes, Rahane has been more successful while opening the batting, with three centuries and twelve half centuries. But that doesn’t mean he isn’t cut out for any other batting position. Rahane himself is comfortable with the number four slot as he has the experience of batting that spot in big matches, remember 2015 World Cup.
With the World Cup in England in 2019, this tour would have been the ideal preparation for Rahane and the team could have tested waters for the final time with him as one average series can never be an indicator. But again in this over-crowded Indian team, it has always been ‘perform or perish’ for most of the people other than the top 3.
Still, with number four conundrum far from being solved and more than a year to go for the World Cup, the message was clear for Mr Rahane - Perform or Perish? With this selection call going against him it looks like ‘Perish’ is the word for Rahane.
A rough deal, that’s what Rahane has been handed, the least you can say.
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