Team India has yet again failed to do well with the bat on Day 1 of the 4th Test against England. While in the previous games, one of the openers got starts, today, even KL Rahul and Rohit Sharma went back early. Middle-order failed again, and Ajinkya Rahane got out cheaply once more. A particular statistic highlights Rahane’s massive dip in form, and this is a concern for Team India.
Middle-order fails to step up again
The middle-order of the Indian Cricket Team is struggling at the moment. The heart of the batting unit did not do well in the first three encounters, and the story remained the same in the first innings of the 4th Test at the Oval.
While Cheteshwar Pujara got just four runs, Rahane could contribute with just 14. Only Virat Kohli looked decent with a fifty. Rishabh Pant and the promoted Ravindra Jadeja also failed in their task.
Rahane’s massive dip in form
In four games so far, India’s vice-captain has hit just 109 runs at a disappointing average of 18.17. This is unacceptable considering he is one of the most experienced batsmen in the line-up. Moreover, at No.5, he hardly gets to play the new ball, and despite this, Rahane’s numbers have been poor. A statistic highlight this and the Mumbai cricketer’s recent drop in form.
Ajinkya Rahane's Test average falls under 40 for the first time since 2015. When Rahane hit his career best score of 188 in Indore in 2016, his average was 51.37. Now his average is 39.96 #ENGvIND
— Sarang Bhalerao (@bhaleraosarang) September 2, 2021
Rahane was excellent when he started out in his Test career. He used to get big knocks often, but now, it has become very sporadic. Rahane once had an average of over 50, and seeing this come down below 40 will be frustrating for him, as well. Having played 77 games, Rahane’s time in Team India is looking brittle at the moment. If his form does not improve in the second innings, the likes of Hanuma Vihari or Suryakumar Yadav could get a look in for the final encounter.
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