South Africa Test Series: Ajinkya Rahane vs a third opener

[Oligochaetes]

Looking at Rahane's poor form lately and the performances of the Troika of Indian Openers, would it be a better bet to go with 3 openers and keep the out of form Rahane out of the playing 11?

Rahane looks like a walking wicket lately and personally I would like all 3 openers to play in the first match.

What is your opinion?

Another point of contention is, should India go with 4 bowlers and Rohit @No.6 or should India play Pandya?

 

[Aman]

Of course not.

Rahane is your best batsmen against the moving ball.

 

[R0H1T]

Of course not.

Rahane is your best batsmen against the moving ball.

Yes, but not an out of form Rahane, looks a mental midget right now! He'll play only if we need 6 batters i.e. on a green track in which case 3 pacers & pandya is the way to go. I don't see Kohli dropping his other favorite Sharma in favor of Rahane on a flat track, considering the form he is in!

 

[Bilal7]

1) Vijay
2) Rahul
3) Rahane
4) Pujara
5) Kohli (c)
6) Saha (wk)
7) Pandya
8) Jadeja
9) Kumar
10) Shami
11) Sharma

12) Rohit

This is India's best bet to seriously challenging South Africa in the test series. A solid top four with each batsman competent against the moving ball and then the likes of Kohli and Pandya available to take advantage of a set platform. Rahane is the key batsman for India.

Jadeja has a five-for in South Africa and is much better at drying up the runs than Ashwin and is miles ahead as a fielder. He should be the preferred over the serial overseas failure that is 'Bowling Bradman'. Ishant remains India's best test pacer and Shami and Kumar are decent options as well.

Have Rohit field for Sharma and/or Shami whenever possible.

 

[Bilal7]

It is insane to play the biggest FTB of this generation, Rohit Sharma, over Rahane in South Africa. But then again, I'll always enjoy seeing these overrated Indian batsmen exposed on good cricketing wickets so I do hope he gets a game at some point.

 

[battler]

I'd atleast give Rahane the first test.

 

[R0H1T]

It is insane to play the biggest FTB of this generation, Rohit Sharma, over Rahane in South Africa. But then again, I'll always enjoy seeing these overrated Indian batsmen exposed on good cricketing wickets so I do hope he gets a game at some point.

Depends on the track, I'd pick Rahane on a green seamer but if we get tracks like the Bangla tests then Sharma will start first. Your picks (first eleven) for the tour is fine but we all know Kohli favors his Sharmas, bigly!

 

[The_Odd_One]

Rahane is batting like Shafiq these days and it is a very worrying sign for Indian team.

 

[WengerOut]

Of course not.

Rahane is your best batsmen against the moving ball.

An eg apart from Lords?

 

[giri26]

I just hope that Kohli does not use Rahane's poor form to get his buddy Rohit into the test side. He has already ruined KL Rahul's ODI/T20 career. Rohit Sharma had a wonderful home series against a hapless WI attack before India departed to SA in 2013. I think he scored a 200 and a 100. We all know what followed. I don't want Rohit in the team. I just feel this guy is so lucky to have received so many chances. Why aren't players like Karun Nair getting these many chances? I remember Rohit was averaging in 20's in ODI's upto 70-80 games. Cannot imagine any other player getting so many chances to turn things around in the current or former teams. He is getting the same preferential treatment in tests as well. I pity all the young players including KL Rahul who have to be dropped after just couple of failures in a new batting position.

 

[Aman]

An eg apart from Lords?

Didn't he score runs in NZ and SA?

 

[giri26]

Didn't he score runs in NZ and SA?

Yup he did and was the only player to score runs in all countries during India's last overseas leg. Yes he ended up with a poor average in England but again none of them except him, Dhoni and Vijay did anything on that tour. Forgot about Bhuvi, who scored couple of fifties.

 

[WengerOut]

Didn't he score runs in NZ and SA?

In SA it was a subcontinent type pitch at Durban. Only challenging pitch in that 2 test series was the first 2 days of Johannesburg.

And regarding NZ , the scorecard must be enough

http://www.espncricinfo.com/series/11825/scorecard/667653/New-Zealand-vs-India-2nd-Test/

 

[giri26]

In SA it was a subcontinent type pitch at Durban. Only challenging pitch in that 2 test series was the first 2 days of Johannesburg.

And regarding NZ , the scorecard must be enough

http://www.espncricinfo.com/series/11825/scorecard/667653/New-Zealand-vs-India-2nd-Test/

If all pitches on which Rahane scored runs were so flat, why wasn't the Rohit "The greatest talent India has ever produced " Sharma not able to score any runs? Why wasn't India's best test player Mr Pujara, such a flop? Rahane is India's best player outside Asia, if given a chance he will prove that again this time. Rohit will fail again if picked.

 

[WengerOut]

If all pitches on which Rahane scored runs were so flat, why wasn't the Rohit "The greatest talent India has ever produced " Sharma not able to score any runs? Why wasn't India's best test player Mr Pujara, such a flop? Rahane is India's best player outside Asia, if given a chance he will prove that again this time. Rohit will fail again if picked.

I dint say Rohit is better at tests. But ATM , it is only fair that he is in form rather than Rahane. Otherwise it is just hypothesis that Rahane will roar at the sight of green wickets. Only criteria should be current form plus basic talent which Rohit has right now. If he fails again , fair enough , drop him.

Ans YES , Rahane has been living off his Lords innings for some time now. He is way too inconsistent for a test batsman . It is not just being out of form. Horrendous technique is there as far i can see. Sure , Rohit might be flawed , but atleast he does everything with conviction.

 

[pillionrider]

Rahane is a must abroad. He will be back. Rohit too must play. Drop Dhawan and get Rahul in.

 

[giri26]

I dint say Rohit is better at tests. But ATM , it is only fair that he is in form rather than Rahane. Otherwise it is just hypothesis that Rahane will roar at the sight of green wickets. Only criteria should be current form plus basic talent which Rohit has right now. If he fails again , fair enough , drop him.

Ans YES , Rahane has been living off his Lords innings for some time now. He is way too inconsistent for a test batsman . It is not just being out of form. Horrendous technique is there as far i can see. Sure , Rohit might be flawed , but atleast he does everything with conviction.

If you remember Rohit made his debut just before the 2013 overseas leg for India. He scored a 200 and a hundred against a hapless WI attack in that farewell series for India. India felt they found a bradman and played him in the overseas tests. We all know what happened. I never trust Rohit, the guy for some reason keeps getting chances ahead of some young players.

 

[WengerOut]

If you remember Rohit made his debut just before the 2013 overseas leg for India. He scored a 200 and a hundred against a hapless WI attack in that farewell series for India. India felt they found a bradman and played him in the overseas tests. We all know what happened. I never trust Rohit, the guy for some reason keeps getting chances ahead of some young players.

Pretty simple, in form Rohit is better than haplessly out of form Rahane

 

[LastManstanding]

Pretty simple, in form Rohit is better than haplessly out of form Rahane

Only if its a flat pitch.

 

[Ab Fan]

Looking at Rahane's poor form lately and the performances of the Troika of Indian Openers, would it be a better bet to go with 3 openers and keep the out of form Rahane out of the playing 11?

Rahane looks like a walking wicket lately and personally I would like all 3 openers to play in the first match.

What is your opinion?

Another point of contention is, should India go with 4 bowlers and Rohit @No.6 or should India play Pandya?

Rohit really?? That is absurd.

Rahane should be playing in SA given the ability he possess against pace bowlers.