5 reasons why Ajinkya Rahane should play the ODI series against Sri Lanka
The Indian team management has been reluctant to slot Ajinkya Rahane in the middle-order in ODIs even when the team has been facing a challenge with the number 4 slot. Skipper Virat Kohli has stated clearly in press meets that the management considers Rahane only for the opener's role.
But Rahane has a lot of patience and the right technique that can provide a strong foundation to the innings. He also has the right temperament to give momentum to the innings in the aggressor role, evident from his impressive Indian Premier League (IPL) career.
Here are 5 reasons why India should try him in the middle-order in the home ODI series against Sri Lanka.
#5 Better experience at the international level
With 84 ODIs under his belt, Rahane is the second most-experienced batsman in the team vying for a middle-order spot (except MS Dhoni and the regular openers). Shreyas Iyer is still uncapped in ODIs; neither Manish Pandey nor Kedar Jadhav has played half as many matches as Rahane.
Rahane has done well in the 5 home ODIs he played against Sri Lanka. In 2014, he scored a 200-run partnership with Shikhar Dhawan at Cuttack, which helped India post a 169-run win over Sri Lanka, and was awarded the man of the match for his efforts. Rahane is an impact player who has scored 23 fifties and three hundreds at the international level. He can save the side from a collapse or change gears to pile up runs when the situation demands.
As a senior pro, he also has the experience of leading the team in 3 ODIs against Zimbabwe and marshalled his troops well to win all the matches.