‘If he had been there today…..’Sunil Gavaskar on Ajinkya Rahane’s absence after India’s batting collapse vs SA in 1st Test

Team India had an awful start on Day 1 of the first Test game on December 26 in Centurion. Notably, the visiting side failed to impress on Day 1, as they were not able to bat on the tricky pitch. However, it was star batter KL Rahul showed his brilliant batting ability with his unbeaten 70 runs to help the visiting sides put themselves in the dominant position at the end of the opening game. Meanwhile, former India cricketer Sunil Gavaskar has opened up about Ajinkya Rahane’s absence in the Test game.

The well-renowned cricket commentator speaks about how crucial an innings Rahane played back in 2018 in Johannesburg, which helped India team win the Test game. In addition, the legendary cricketer feels Rahane should be picked for the ongoing Test series due to his experience in South African conditions.

“People have been talking about the pitch in the Johannesburg Test five years back and I was there. Yeah, it wasn’t the easiest of pitches to bat on the odd-ball was climbing up; and Ajinkya Rahane, who had not been picked for the first two Test matches, was picked for that game and he showed what the Indian team had missed because earlier on in the first couple of Test matches India did not lose by big margins,” Sunil Gavaskar said while commentating on Star Sports.

If Ajinkya Rahane had been there today the story could have been completely different: Sunil Gavaskar

The former India skipper feels Rahane is a fine player, and his presence in the ongoing Test match would have completely changed the dynamics in the Test game, along with keeping India in a dominant position. Moreover, the great batter played a crucial 89-run knock in the WTC Final, which saved India from huge humiliation and embarrassment in the game.

“So maybe somebody with Rahane’s experience overseas… because Rahane overseas has been such a fine, fine player and maybe if he had been there today the story could have been completely different,” he added further.