India batter Shreyas Iyer started his Test career with a magnificent century. The batter was drafted into the squad after the BCCI rested a few senior players from the two-match Test series against New Zealand. The right-hander grabbed the opportunity with both hands and bailed India out of trouble, helping them post a decent total on board in the first innings. Even in the second innings, Iyer played a crucial hand of 65 to help the team recover from a shaky start.
On the other hand, under fire batter, Ajinkya Rahane, who is also the skipper of the team, failed in both innings. Rahane is going through a severe lean patch and many are questioning in place of the team. India Test captain Virat Kohli will be back for the second Test. The management now has to make a tough call to drop one of the batters to make way for Kohli.
With Iyer making a big impact in the game, former New Zealand spinner Daniel Vettori feels it would be unfair if the team drops Iyer for Kohli. Vettori instead believes that vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane will have to make way for the skipper, adding that a break can do wonders for Rahane.
“I still think Rahane is still a solid player," Vettori told ESPNcricinfo. “He looks like he wants to be aggressive; the way he is playing doesn’t feel tentative. but he is getting out. In a lot of ways, being dropped and having the ability to come back and resettle everything as a batsman, particularly at the Test level, can weigh you down."
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Cricketer turned expert Wasim Jaffer also believes that Rahane will be disappointed for not converting a good start in the first innings, adding that one of him or Pujara will have to make way for the Indian skipper.
“He would be more upset with the start he got in the first innings and
“It’s going to be a big question, ‘who goes out when Virat Kohli comes in’, and what kind of combination India goes with, because Mayank