The selection matters have always been a hot topic of discussion among cricket fans and experts in the Indian spectrum but the situation revolving around Ajinkya Rahane is a complicated one. The India Test vice-captain has been going through a rough patch for long, and there are those who do not see him being a part of the first-choice playing XI anymore.
While skipper Virat Kohli backed Rahane in his post-match press conference after the second Test against New Zealand in Mumbai, former India star VVS Laxman doesn’t think Rahane should be included in the playing XI for the first Test against South Africa. Backing Shreyas Iyer to be included in the team in place of Rahane, Laxman called for continuity in the Indian team in order for those performing to be persisted with.
“According to me, Ajinkya Rahane cannot play in the first match. Continuity is very important, so I will play Shreyas Iyer because if you give someone two Test matches and the way he batted on debut under pressure,” Laxman said during a discussion on Star Sports.
“He scored a century and a half-century, so I will give that continuity, the confidence that you want to give to a young batsman, I will definitely give that.”
With Vihari also showing form in tricky South African conditions, Laxman feels the middle-order batsman should be included in the squad even though he might not make the cut for the playing XI.
“I will definitely include Hanuma Vihari in the squad because with what combination does Virat Kohli play. We have seen that top five will be batters, Rishabh Pant at No.6 as a wicketkeeper-batsman,” asserted Laxman.
