Australia vs India: Rahane is born to lead the cricket teams, says Ian Chappell.
Australia vs India: Former Australian captain and cricketer, Ian Chappell heaped praise on India’s stand-in skipper Ajinkya Rahane as he leads his side to a massive turnaround in the second test match. Chappell says, Rahane is a “born leader” and led his side “flawlessly” in the second test match.
Under Ajinkya Rahane, the visitors made a strong comeback to level the ongoing series after a humiliating loss in the first game. In absence of regular skipper Virat Kohli, India thrashed Australia by eight wickets in the Melbourne Test.
“There is no doubt on Rahane’s flawless captaincy in the second Melbourne test in the past week. Anyone who watched him leading in the 2017 Dharmshala test match against Australia would know him as a man born to lead cricketing sides,” Ian Chappell said.
“The move that got my whole attention was the time when Rahane called Kuldeep Yadav, the debutant wrist spinner in front of Steve Smith and David Warner who were settled after a well 100 runs stand. That was a very smart and brave call from Rahane and it turned out gold for his side,” he recalled.
The debutant wrist-spinner claimed Warner’s scalp and eventually, Australia slipped the match with five wickets.
Rahane is a born leader says, Chappell:
“However, one cannot say that this is it for Rahane’s captaincy, there is so much more in him apart from these two qualities. His nature is calm when things don’t go his way, he keeps that patience,” said a former Australian cricketer.
Chappell also praised Indian bowlers, Mohammad Siraj, Jasprit Bumrah who bowed tight areas to Australians to keep the series alive.
Despite other Indian player’s performance, Rahane’s well-crafted century was the one moment that turned the game firmly into India’s favor on the fourth day.
“Rahane’s ton came at the time when India needed it and that knock of the century gave India a hope that victory is attainable in that game.”
Former Australian feels that the series is alive even if some of the key Indian players are injured and returned home. Virat Kohli, Umesh Yadav, Mohammad Shami are the ones who have returned to India.
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