After another poor series, time for selectors to drop Ajinkya Rahane, Shikhar Dhawan and Murali Vijay for good

[Lannister]

'Tough times don't last, tough people do' is an age-old adage. India's senior cricketers know this only too well. Not that they are tough folks; but they are aware that if they can’t get runs against tough opponents South Africa, Australia or England in overseas conditions, there's always someone easier to milk at home. Maybe Bangladesh or Sri Lanka or even Afghanistan!

 

Thus their tough times are limited to only South Africa, England and Australia. Two of the tough tours – to South Africa and England – are out of the way, with just Australia to contend with this November. Meanwhile, there is a home series against West Indies in October which provides seniors ample opportunity to lick their wounds and simultaneously puff themselves up and strut around as the cat's whiskers before Australia once again force them to tuck their tails between their legs and scoot.

 

Other things being equal, a batsman's best years are between the ages 27 and 31, give or take a year or two. It is during this period that he would be most productive in terms of runs, centuries, fitness and dominance of bowling attacks. By the age of 27, he would have batted in different conditions, soaked up the lessons and learnt to adapt to different situations, conditions and bowlers.

 

This would stand him in good stead for the next three years at least before the downward descend starts. Virtually all batsmen go through this curve and Shikhar Dhawan, Murali Vijay and Ajinkya Rahane, three of the worst culprits in India's loss in England are no exceptions. The trio let down skipper Virat Kohli and Indian cricket so badly they should never be allowed to play red ball cricket for India again.

 

Dhawan and Vijay were chosen as opening batsmen on the tough tour for their experience as well as the rare opportunity to field a left-right combination at the top. Had they got to the odd good start in England the team would have benefited. Instead, individually and collectively they turned out to be a disaster.

 

Take Dhawan. The surprise was that he was chosen at all. He had been an unmitigated disaster on tours outside the sub-continent. On the 2014 tour of England, he made a mere 122 runs from six innings. The same year, in Australia he made a paltry 142 in 5 innings. Later, in West Indies, he tallied 138 from 4 innings. Earlier this year in South Africa Dhawan could score no more than 22 runs from two innings. Thus with such a ridiculous track record, why was he selected for an overseas tour?

 

Dhawan is a sucker for deliveries angled across the body. Pace bowlers position covers and point in such a manner that he would be tempted to go for the checked drive. A boundary or two later that stroke would meet with grief as he inevitably snicks to the slip cordon.

On this tour, Dhawan enjoyed a fair share of luck as the butter-fingered English slip fielders put his down time and again. But he was not good enough to ride the luck. Was it any surprise that he made just 162 runs from 8 innings?

 

Another who was hurtling on a downward spiral was Dhawan’s partner Vijay. In the past, his patience and grit had won him many admirers. But the 35-year-old opener looked way past his best as his 2018 statistics of 6 Tests, 11 innings, 233 runs for an average of 21.1 reveals. Prior to 2018, Vijay had an average of 41.5. That is nearly double his 2018 average. But in 2018 he had just one innings above 50, a score of 105 vs Afghanistan in Bengaluru. Vijay was a flop in South Africa and now in England.

Much was expected of Rahane after his 2014 success in England. Strangely his career has nose-dived after those heady days. Now at the age of 31, his best days as a batsman cannot be ahead of him.

 

The last two years have been a disaster for Rahane. It cannot be a loss of form. That happens for a few innings or matches. In Rahane's case he has been a failure for over two years. That is far too long a period to be explained away as loss of form.

In fact, in the last 20 Tests, he has a total of just 891 runs for an average of 27.8. His best and only century during the period is an innings of 132 against Sri Lanka in 2017. These are not the statistics to be expected of a frontline batsman.

 

Rahane’s last overseas century outside the sub-continent was in 2014. Had he developed on expected lines after that, he could have been as solid as Dilip Vengsarkar or Rahul Dravid for the current team. Instead, he looks less assured than debutant Hanuma Vihari.

It is obvious from their past and recent records that this trio of batsmen needs to be immediately retired from Test cricket. Not only are they useless to Indian cricket but their very presence is hurting the team's fortunes. It is also holding up the development and growth of younger batsmen.

 

Karun Nair was dropped in the very next Test after he had made a historic triple ton against England only because the selectors wanted Rahane to reclaim his spot. Nair had played the Test because Rahane was injured. Instead of allowing the latter to fight and get back his spot in the team he was handed it on a platter. The results are for all to see.

 

It is not just Nair. There are a whole lot of young, hungry batsmen in Prithvi Shaw, Mayank Agarwal, Shubman Gill and even Shreyas Iyer who need a look-in as soon as possible. The two-Test series against West Indies might be just the platform to unleash young talent.

 

Dhawan might still be handy for white ball cricket but there seems little sense in giving either Rahane or Vijay another chance. Hopefully, MSK Prasad and company will not waste the series against West Indies on a bunch of losers. Tough decisions taken now will define what constitutes long-term planning. Go ahead MSK! Bite the bullet. Rid the team of dead wood.

 

https://www.firstpost.com/firstcricket/sports-news/india-vs-england-after-another-poor-series-time-for-selectors-to-drop-ajinkya-rahane-shikhar-dhawan-and-murali-vijay-for-good-5175301.html

[Lannister]

Some strong words by the author, backed up by stats. This cannot go on any longer, as even media is taking notice of the poor state of Indian Cricket. 

[rtmohanlal]

for me  it is not Rahane  from the list, it is Pujara who needs to be dropped apart from the other 2 obvious choices.

All right Rahane 's past 2 years record is not good overall . But his away performance in the last 3 years has been very good with 46+ avg: . 

[nevada]

Dhawan is  known hack and Vijay seems to be a victim of father time. Rahane has been the biggest disappointment. At a time when he should have peaked and reached his best form, he is in a prolonged, seemingly irreversible decline! The cracks appeared when he struggled against spin at home and now, there is no escape even abroad. Sad to say it, but its time to say "time's up, pardner!" and show him the door along with Dhawan and Vijay.

[rtmohanlal]

6 minutes ago, nevada said:

Dhawan is  known hack and Vijay seems to be a victim of father time. Rahane has been the biggest disappointment. At a time when he should have peaked and reached his best form, he is in a prolonged, seemingly irreversible decline! The cracks appeared when he struggled against spin at home and now, there is no escape even abroad. Sad to say it, but its time to say "time's up, pardner!" and show him the door along with Dhawan and Vijay.

Of all 4 in SENA, Rahane has been mediocre  only in ENG as of now. It is understandable  because each and every batsman has their bogey countries. Laxman was brilliant in AUS ,but was only mere good in ENG. Dravid was great in ENG , but average in SAF, Ponting always remained below avg: in IND . We need to evaluate Rahane too based on that .Before this tour Rahane avg:ed 33 in the last tour 

of ENG . Now he avg:  almost 30 only in ENG over all. Can happen. His only problem is ENG.

[G_B_]

Rahane has the credentials but I think he needs to tell himself, no more T20 no more ODI.

 

I am test player only and let me play only that. Feel this push to play across formats has screwed him

[Ankit_sharma03]

Dhawan shud have been dropped from test squad last yr 

Vijay is on its own now- pile on runs , show some hunger n earn back ur spot

Rahane- cnt give up on him ....he is quality player and u dnt find that every day. Kick him, drop him, Talk to him, back him whatever way work its management job to bring the best our of him. Every players needs to be managed diff and its management task now 

[Tibarn]

I think only Vijay will be dropped due to age. Dhawan will get in form vs the Windies and go to Australia 

[LORD_analyst]

rahane: 2  scores of   50+ in 10 innings......piss poor

 

che pu : 2 scores  of 50+ in 8 innings .....poor

 

vijay:    loolz

 

for me- rahane is the biggest dissapointment as he plays with slightly older ball than others  and has the capability to score overseas.

 

[rtmohanlal]

3 hours ago, G_B_ said:

Rahane has the credentials but I think he needs to tell himself, no more T20 no more ODI.

 

I am test player only and let me play only that. Feel this push to play across formats has screwed him

yes .... he can be the VVS Laxman of current era.... a test specialist. It all depends on how he is managed by the management and more importantly how he manages himself. If he goes behind extra money from cheap t20 leagues his test career is sure to regress.Other wise he can improve a lot because the ability is there. 

[Straight Drive]

A lot of flops will score runs against West Indies and secure their place in test squad again. Then the overseas tour will expose lot of players again. Cycle will go on and on .

[Global.Baba]

Dhawan will score against WI, will start off against Aus, will be dropped after 1 test, will come back for the final test if the replacement opener sucks or one of them is injured, will score a 40 odd and then retain his place or will wait till the next SC series to score runs

 

Jab tak Kohli hai Dhawan ke ghar mein Khushali hai

[SecondSlip]

Vijay and Dhawan won’t be selected for the Australia series but Rahane will. 

 

If Rahane fails in Australia, I don’t see him sticking in the test squad either. 

[prasen82]

Rahane will be stripped of vice captaincy. Will get max of 2 tests. If we lose both badly and no significant contributions rahane career is toast.

 

Let's see how he does vijay hazare. Fkr all we know he could spectacularly flop here making selection job easier 

 

 

[prudent_kreeda]

On 9/13/2018 at 3:03 PM, G_B_ said:

Rahane has the credentials but I think he needs to tell himself, no more T20 no more ODI.

 

I am test player only and let me play only that. Feel this push to play across formats has screwed him

  Very much agree. Same goes to KL also

[Lannister]

22 minutes ago, prudent_kreeda said:

  Very much agree. Same goes to KL also

KLR is a top T20 player. He is nothing like Rahane. 

[prudent_kreeda]

On 9/15/2018 at 1:24 PM, Lannister said:

KLR is a top T20 player. He is nothing like Rahane. 

  Was alluding to that fact that his test batsmanshiop quality has gone down by the habits from T20 , ODT games as he playes all 3 formats . 

[zen]

On 9/13/2018 at 4:08 AM, Lannister said:

Much was expected of Rahane after his 2014 success in England. Strangely his career has nose-dived after those heady days. Now at the age of 31, his best days as a batsman cannot be ahead of him.

 

The last two years have been a disaster for Rahane. It cannot be a loss of form. That happens for a few innings or matches. In Rahane's case he has been a failure for over two years. That is far too long a period to be explained away as loss of form.

In fact, in the last 20 Tests, he has a total of just 891 runs for an average of 27.8. His best and only century during the period is an innings of 132 against Sri Lanka in 2017. These are not the statistics to be expected of a frontline batsman.

 

Rahane’s last overseas century outside the sub-continent was in 2014. Had he developed on expected lines after that, he could have been as solid as Dilip Vengsarkar or Rahul Dravid for the current team. Instead, he looks less assured than debutant Hanuma Vihari.

It is obvious from their past and recent records that this trio of batsmen needs to be immediately retired from Test cricket. Not only are they useless to Indian cricket but their very presence is hurting the team's fortunes. It is also holding up the development and growth of younger batsmen.

 

Karun Nair was dropped in the very next Test after he had made a historic triple ton against England only because the selectors wanted Rahane to reclaim his spot. Nair had played the Test because Rahane was injured. Instead of allowing the latter to fight and get back his spot in the team he was handed it on a platter. The results are for all to see.

 

It is not just Nair. There are a whole lot of young, hungry batsmen in Prithvi Shaw, Mayank Agarwal, Shubman Gill and even Shreyas Iyer who need a look-in as soon as possible. The two-Test series against West Indies might be just the platform to unleash young talent.

The author appears to be reading a bunch of threads on Rahane on ICF  

 

[Brainfade]

Too kind to Karun. Okay he was dropped after the 300, but has he distinguished himself in domestics and A cricket to keep himself in contention? I don't think so. Certainly hasn't helped himself.