Team India’s Test Series Dominance Over West Indies: Ajinkya Rahane’s Struggles and Captaincy Prospects

Introduction

Team India is currently basking in its dominance over the West Indies in the ongoing two-match Test series.

Under the captaincy of Rohit Sharma, India 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.

While the series has witnessed remarkable performances from players like Virat Kohli and Yashasvi Jaiswal, it has been a challenging outing for Ajinkya Rahane, who has struggled to find his form.

The Second Test’s High-scoring First Innings

In the second Test, India’s batsmen posted an impressive total of 438 runs, showcasing their prowess and determination. The team displayed great character and skill, laying the foundation for another possible victory.

Rahane’s Struggles in the Series

Ajinkya Rahane, who made a triumphant return to the Indian team after an exceptional IPL 2023 with the Chennai Super Kings, seemed to have regained his form ahead of the World Test Championship final against Australia in June.

In that match, he scored an impressive 89 and 46 in the two innings. However, his form has deserted him in the ongoing series against the West Indies, where he could only manage scores of 3 and 8 in the first and second Tests, respectively.

The Criticism and Backing

Rahane’s poor performance has led to significant criticism from cricket enthusiasts and experts alike. Despite this, former India batter Wasim Jaffer came out in support of Rahane, highlighting the need for consistency in his game. Jaffer believes Rahane has the potential to be a “good captaincy option” after Rohit Sharma.

The Importance of Consistency

Jaffer emphasized that consistency has been an ongoing issue for Rahane, despite his experience of playing in 80-90 Tests. To be considered for the captaincy role, Rahane must overcome this problem and showcase regularity in his performance.

His batting form will be the key determinant of his captaincy prospects.

Missed Opportunity for Captaincy

Jaffer also recalled a missed opportunity for Rahane to become India’s Test captain after the remarkable 2-1 series win over Australia in the 2021 Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

Rahane’s stellar leadership during that series, along with his match-winning century in Melbourne, positioned him as a potential captaincy candidate. However, a dip in form led to his exclusion from the team.

Rahane’s Reinvention and Vice-captaincy Role

Despite the setback, Rahane demonstrated resilience and reinvented himself during the IPL, earning him a chance in the World Test Championship final.

The Indian selectors also recognized his leadership qualities, appointing him as the vice-captain. However, to solidify his captaincy aspirations, Rahane must perform consistently and score runs consistently.

Conclusion

The ongoing Test series against the West Indies has been a mixed bag for Team India’s vice-captain, Ajinkya Rahane. While the team is enjoying overall success, Rahane’s struggles with the bat have drawn attention and criticism.

However, former India batter Wasim Jaffer believes that Rahane can still be a potential captaincy option for India in the future. To achieve this, Rahane must focus on finding his form and displaying the much-needed consistency in his performances.

FAQs

1. How has Team India performed in the ongoing Test series against the West Indies? Team India has been dominant in the series, winning the first Test against the West Indies by an innings and 141 runs.

2. What has been Ajinkya Rahane’s performance in the series? Ajinkya Rahane has struggled in the series, scoring only 3 and 8 runs in the first and second Tests, respectively.

3. What did former India batter Wasim Jaffer say about Rahane’s captaincy prospects? Wasim Jaffer backed Rahane’s captaincy potential, stating that he could be a good captaincy option after Rohit Sharma.

4. How important is consistency for Rahane’s captaincy aspirations? Consistency is crucial for Rahane’s captaincy aspirations, as it has been an ongoing issue in his career.

5. Did Rahane miss an opportunity to become India’s Test captain earlier? Yes, after India’s series win against Australia in the 2021 Border-Gavaskar Trophy, Rahane had the chance to become the Test captain, but a dip in form led to his exclusion from the team.