In a video that went viral at the end of India’s 2020-21 tour of Australia, the BCCI put out what captain Rahane had said to his teammates at the end of the Brisbane victory. What stood out for us are the two men Rahane singled out. He congratulated Kuldeep Yadav for his work ethic and said to the left-arm wrist-spin bowler that he would soon get an opportunity. Kuldeep was the only member of the squad who hadn’t played a Test match in Australia. He also thanked young Kartik Tyagi for his contribution in the nets, mentions that showed Ajinkya’s character as a leader.
“I had waited for a long time before I got my Test cap,” Rahane said to me soon after he had returned to Mumbai. “I knew how hard it was to be in the reserves for months and yet contribute to the team. It was important I speak to Kuldeep, for he is an important member of the side.”
I am well aware that the mood is not to look back. Maybe they will not. But with Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma not there, is there reason to look at Rahane? The truth is that he isn’t as old as it is being made out. Many have played at his age and continue to do so. For someone who can take the rigours of the IPL, there is little doubt over his fitness. He has played domestic cricket consistently for three years, and has also won the Ranji and Irani trophy in the same time period. While Rahane hasn’t said anything on the subject, his recent words, “Red ball cricket means the world to me”, does make a compelling case.
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Rahane isn’t a long-term solution, and not for once am I saying that. But in the absence of experience in the middle order in England, is he a prudent option? With Sai Sudharsan, Yashasvi Jaiswal and either of Karun Nair or Sarfaraz Khan, India’s batting stays inexperienced and fragile. And that’s where Rahane becomes relevant. The question is whether it should be horses for courses or a long-term vision. A poor England series will mean a very bad start to the WTC cycle and that could hurt India. Rahane, a strong leader, could also be a key presence in the dressing room, and help a young skipper in Shubman Gill if he is eventually named captain.
At the time of his debut, Rahane had already scored 23 first-class hundreds in his career at an average of 62. It was no surprise that he was up for the challenge and has always been. While his initiation into Test cricket was rough, the subsequent journey wasn’t smooth either. He was yet again left out of the team in South Africa in January 2018, and this time despite being the vice-captain. “I wouldn’t deny it had pained me,” he said back then. “I was the vice-captain and to not make the team in what was a very important series was frustrating. But then certain things are not in your hands.”
So, even if he is left out, he will continue to do what he does best – play on, and with full intensity and passion. Rahane has been, is, and will be all about hard work.