CHENNAI: Ajinkya Rahane‘s scores of 1 and 0 in the first Test at the Chepauk did little to correct a glaring anomaly in the Indian vice-captain’s Test record.
While Rahane’s away average of 44.44 is commendable and he has contributed to memorable wins like at Lord’s in 2014 and at the MCG most recently, his returns of 37.35 in India needs correction. It is an aspect of his game that is hard to decipher, given that most prominent Indian batsmen average over 50 in familiar surroundings at home.
Rahane’s teammates Virat Kohli and Cheteshwar Pujara, for instance, have home averages of 67.42 and 59.31 respectively. The Mumbaikar, though, doesn’t seem concerned by those numbers. On the eve of the second Test, the 32-year-old exuded confidence that he is going to contribute in this series.
While Rahane’s away average of 44.44 is commendable and he has contributed to memorable wins like at Lord’s in 2014 and at the MCG most recently, his returns of 37.35 in India needs correction. It is an aspect of his game that is hard to decipher, given that most prominent Indian batsmen average over 50 in familiar surroundings at home.
Rahane’s teammates Virat Kohli and Cheteshwar Pujara, for instance, have home averages of 67.42 and 59.31 respectively. The Mumbaikar, though, doesn’t seem concerned by those numbers. On the eve of the second Test, the 32-year-old exuded confidence that he is going to contribute in this series.
“I don’t need to worry about what happened in the first Test. It is about what the team wants from me for this Test match. I am going to contribute. I am very confident about it,” Rahane said.
He can…