Ajinkya Rahane has been struggling to bat in the middle order for a long time. Over the last two years, Ajinkya Rahane averages a meager 19.20. Jinx as he is called by his teammates is fighting for his place in the Indian team. But a failure in the third test match against South Africa in South Africa doesn’t work in favor of Ajinkya Rahane. There have been several speculations of Ajinkya Rahane getting dropped. So, who are the top 5 players to replace Ajinkya Rahane? Here is a look:
5) Karun Nair to Replace Ajinkya Rahane:
Karun Nair was the front runner for the spot of the number 7 batsmen before the 2018 England Series. But due to the arrival of Hanuma Vihari and Vihari’s consistency, Karun Nair was drawn out of the contest. Karun Nair happens to be the only second Indian after Virender Sehwag to score a triple hundred in tests. He was excellent with the bat in 2016 and 2017. Karun is also a mainstay in the Karnataka team that has dominated the domestic circuit in the recent past.
4) Suryakumar Yadav:
Getting a spot in the white-ball format, automatically makes you a candidate in the red ball game. The same is the case with Suryakumar Yadav. SKY who has been a part of the leadership group of the Mumbai Ranji team has the technique to play the red-ball game. Suryakumar has been in and around the red-ball circuit for quite some time now. It is about time he gets a chance to replace Ajinkya Rahane.
3) Shubman Gill to Replace Ajinkya Rahane:
There have been talks of Shubman Gill playing in the middle-order. Deep Dasgupta, an analyst on the Star TV Panel has seen Shubman as a potential candidate for the middle-order. Ajinkya Rahane can be successfully replaced by Shubman Gill. Gill showed his abilities in the Australia tour of 2020-2021. He has the technique required to score daddy hundreds. His taking the leadership role in the Punjab Ranji Team adds to his account.
2) Shreyas Iyer:
Shreyas Iyer should have been picked in the third test match against South Africa is what several cricket pundits feel. But a stomach bug ruled him out of contention. But his hundred against New Zealand at home and the fifty scored in the second innings at Kanpur shows his skill. Shreyas Iyer has the skill required to play the short balls and the ones outside off stump. Another Mumbai lad, Shreyas can certainly replace Ajinkya Rahane.
1) Hanuma Vihari to Replace Ajinkya Rahane:
Hanuma Vihari is the front runner in this race of replacing Rahane. Vihari and his innings of 40 in the second innings of the second test match against South Africa showed his skill. His fighting knock at Sydney can never be forgotten. Hanuma Vihari has been the blue-chip stock in the red-ball format. India has always relied on Hanuma as the 7th batsmen and Vihari has delivered with conviction. His average of 34.5 makes his case even stronger.