In the ever-competitive world of Indian cricket, Ajinkya Rahane finds himself in a unique position. Despite his remarkable turnaround in the IPL and significant contributions to the Indian Test team, Rahane continues to face challenges and controversies. While his recent success has earned him a spot in the national side and the vice-captaincy role, some cricket pundits and former players question the decision, suggesting that the opportunity to groom a young player has been missed. This article explores Rahane’s journey, recent accomplishments, and the differing opinions surrounding his role in the team.
Not long ago, Ajinkya Rahane faced exclusion from India’s Test squad and was even stripped of the vice-captaincy. However, a strong domestic season and a successful stint with the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the IPL helped him regain his form and confidence. His standout performance as the leading run-scorer in the World Test Championship final against Australia further solidified his position as a key player in the Indian Test team.
Former Indian cricketer Saba Karim has raised concerns about Rahane’s appointment as vice-captain for the West Indies series. Karim suggests that “irreplaceable” Ravindra Jadeja or promising young talent Shubman Gill could have been considered for the role instead. He points out Jadeja’s all-round contributions and leadership potential, given his consistent performances across all formats. Karim also emphasizes the importance of grooming young players who could potentially take over the captaincy reins from Rohit Sharma in the future.
“I don’t know why people don’t even talk about Ravindra Jadeja. He’s a regular in all formats for the Indian side when he has had major contributions in India’s test success also. So how come he’s never spoken about as a leader? He’s irreplaceable in all three formats for the national side and he’s equally capable of leading the national side. Or if not him then maybe Shubman Gill if the Indian selectors thought that he is the future. I am just saying, there are some candidates,” Karim told Sportskeeda.
Karim highlights Ravindra Jadeja’s significant contributions to India’s test success and exceptional performances in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia. Jadeja’s title-winning season with CSK in the IPL 2023, where he also captained the side, further strengthens the argument for his leadership capabilities. Karim questions why Jadeja is not considered a viable leader, given his invaluable presence in all three game formats.
“When you’re looking at transition, when you pick youngsters like Yashavi Jaiswal and Ruturaj Gaikwad, then why would you make Ajinkya Rahane the vice-captain. What is the logic behind it? He made a comeback after being dropped from the Test side. He played one Test match. He did well, that is perfectly fine. But if you’re looking for the future, if you want to build a side, if you want to groom a cricketer, then why would you go back to Ajinkya Rahane? I mean, with due respect to him and his capabilities as a leader, we need to look at grooming a youngster who could have taken over from Rohit Sharma in times to come,” Karim added.
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Karim urges the Indian think tank to focus on grooming young talent who can potentially take over the captaincy from Rohit Sharma in the coming years. He questions the logic of selecting Rahane as vice-captain, particularly when the team already introduces promising young players like Yashasvi Jaiswal and Ruturaj Gaikwad. Karim believes that investing in the future and building a strong team requires a forward-looking approach that prioritizes the development of young leaders.
