After losing the first two Tests, team India fought back brilliantly in the third Test and created history. Though it was Virat Kohli’s first series loss, the team is quite happy with their performance in the final Test. Ajinkya Rahane, who was not included in the playing XI in the first two Tests was given an opportunity in the 3rd Test.
Rahane used the opportunity very well and seemed to have a good outing to help team India win the match. Despite media’s criticism of skipper Virat Kohli for skipping him in the two Tests, Rahane has done a good job. However, Kohli has changed his previous stance, a fixed one of allocating him only as an opener in the 50-over format.
India would look to settle odds with the Proteas by winning the ODI series. India lost the test series to South Africa and the ODI challenge will be no easier. It would not be an easy task for India to defeat the best team in ODI at their home. India must be very careful in choosing its playing XI for India is up against the number 1 team in the ODI rankings.
India needs to go with its best playing XI and the question is, does Ajinkya Rahane qualify for the playing XI in the One Day series. Ahead of the ODI series against South Africa, captain Virat Kohli has hinted at playing Ajinkya Rahane at No.4.
Virat said, “We have explored many options in the last few months. We don’t have too many series and too much time left before the World Cup, we want to explore all the options before the World Cup. I had said earlier that Ajinkya will be looked at as a third opener, but that situation can change because he has batted at No. 4 in a World Cup before. These conditions are such that you get to play fast bowling throughout the innings so he becomes a strong candidate for No. 4.”
“We have more or less sorted out core players for key positions since the Sri Lanka tour. I would say middle order (specifically No.4) is the only spot we are looking for experimentation at the moment,” said Kohli.
“Middle order is something that, although the lower middle order is more or less sorted. The combination is working well for us with Hardik and Kedar and MS rotating and batting together. No. 4 is something we have experimented with in the last couple of series. That is the only spot I see that needs to be solidified otherwise the team looks pretty balanced,” Kohli said.
In a setback to the Proteas, their best ODI player, AB de Villiers has been ruled out from the first 3 ODIs as he is suffering from a finger injury from the last Test while trying to catch Kohli. We had to say that ABD is a big loss to South Africa given how much importance he holds in the team.
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