Team India has been showcasing its dominance against West Indies in the ongoing two-match Test series. Under the captaincy of Rohit Sharma, the Indian side kicked off its 2023-25 World Test Championship cycle with a resounding victory, defeating the hosts by an innings and 141 runs in the first game in Dominica. Continuing their strong form, India posted an impressive total of 438 in the first innings of the second Test. While players like Virat Kohli and Yashasvi Jaiswal have been shining in the series, vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane has been struggling, managing only 3 runs in the first Test and a disappointing 8 runs in the ongoing match.
Despite his recent underwhelming performances, Ajinkya Rahane earned a spot in the Indian team after a successful IPL 2023 with the Chennai Super Kings. He followed it up with a brilliant performance, scoring 89 and 46 in the World Test Championship final against Australia in June. However, the ongoing series against West Indies has been a challenging phase for him.
In light of the criticism surrounding Rahane’s form, former India batter Wasim Jaffer came to his defense, asserting that Rahane possesses the potential to be a “good captaincy option” after Rohit Sharma.
“Rahane will need to display consistency in his game, which has been a recurring issue, despite having played 80-90 Tests (84). Overcoming this inconsistency is crucial because India sees him as a viable captaincy candidate for the future, following Rohit Sharma’s tenure. Rahane must find his form with the bat, and the rest will naturally fall into place,” Jaffer shared his thoughts on Jio Cinema.
Jaffer also pointed out that Rahane was a strong contender for India’s Test captaincy after their 2-1 win over Australia in the 2021 Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
“If his form had remained impressive since that Australia series, especially after the 36 all-out debacle, with his exemplary leadership and a century in Melbourne, he would have been the likely Test captain. Unfortunately, his form dipped, and he got dropped from the team,” explained the former India batter.
“However, he made a remarkable comeback in the IPL and earned a place in the WTC final. His appointment as the vice-captain indicates that the Indian selectors recognize his potential as a good leader. Despite being relatively young, Rahane needs to score runs consistently; otherwise, he may face challenges in the future,” Jaffer added.
As the series against West Indies progresses, Rahane’s performance will be closely watched, with many hoping for him to regain his form and prove himself as a promising candidate for leading Team India in the days to come.
