Ajinkya Rahane appreciation thread

[G_B_]

I dont think MS did it on purpose. Its just nepotism of sorts. Dont think MS rated Rahane. Probably might change with this showing in SA. Every captain will have likes and dislikes and a question of judgement with players.

[dulker]

pujara and rahane already ATG!!!!!!!

[Trichromatic]

Someone please post the video of Rahane's inning. Video posted earlier is not available in India

[Switchblade]

Someone please post the video of Rahane's inning. Video posted earlier is not available in India

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aloazIMLDnk]Ajinkya Rahane T-20 Debut Match-61 Runs in 37 Balls - YouTube[/ame]

[kaptaan]

we gt 2 Dravids in Rahane & Pujara. but dey aint nutn comprd to 10dlkr plsssssssssssssss cum bak!!!!!!!!!!!!!u wud hav slappd stinky steyn!!!!!!!!!

[Texan]

Why would he do that. I am not a fan of Dhoni, but that's baseless allegation. In the ODI team there were no places, in the long run that he was given 5 ODIs in England and 5 ODIs in India, he failed to make any sort of impact.

Do you have any other explanation for these events: 1. Rahane was first picked in the Test squad in 2011 for WI's tour of India. It is the same series in which Ashwin was also first picked. While many other batsmen were subsequently picked (and persisted with) including a prolonged spell in the team for Raina and even a comeback for Yuvraj and debut for Dhawan, Rahane was never picked. This, despite India losing 8 Tests in a row away from home! 2. Rahane was given one Test match and then subsequently dropped from the team in favor of Rohit Sharma. The argument given then was that Sharma was in form. 3. Raina was dropped from the Test squad, but as soon as he was picked again, he was given preference over Rahane (who had been in the squad continuously). Raina, as expected, failed. 4. Dhawan was provided a Test debut ahead of Rahane. The argument then was that Dhawan is an opener and Rahane a middle order bat. Rahane has in the past opened the innings for Mumbai. 5. In the just concluded ODI series, Rahane was picked for one match, got a rough decision from the umpire when he was not out and then promptly dropped for the next match in favor of the out-of-form Yuvraj Singh. How do you explain all these scenarios? You may have an explanation for one or two of them, but not all. When you consider all these circumstances as a whole, you can clearly see that Dhoni wanted Rahane to fail so that he can get some of his friends (read: Raina, Yuvraj) back in the team.

[Switchblade]

pujara and rahane already ATG!!!!!!!

Too early to call them ATG right now but I hope they keep doing well on a regular basis.

[dulker]

[dulker]

Too early to call them ATG right now but I hope they keep doing well on a regular basis.

naww man .... u aint thnkn strait:hysterical:

[Switchblade]

naww man .... u aint thnkn strait:hysterical:

Judging by your posts you are a troll from padosi land .

[Number]

Do you have any other explanation for these events: 1. Rahane was first picked in the Test squad in 2011 for WI's tour of India. It is the same series in which Ashwin was also first picked. While many other batsmen were subsequently picked (and persisted with) including a prolonged spell in the team for Raina and even a comeback for Yuvraj and debut for Dhawan, Rahane was never picked. This, despite India losing 8 Tests in a row away from home! 2. Rahane was given one Test match and then subsequently dropped from the team in favor of Rohit Sharma. The argument given then was that Sharma was in form. 3. Raina was dropped from the Test squad, but as soon as he was picked again, he was given preference over Rahane (who had been in the squad continuously). Raina, as expected, failed. 4. Dhawan was provided a Test debut ahead of Rahane. The argument then was that Dhawan is an opener and Rahane a middle order bat. Rahane has in the past opened the innings for Mumbai. 5. In the just concluded ODI series, Rahane was picked for one match, got a rough decision from the umpire when he was not out and then promptly dropped for the next match in favor of the out-of-form Yuvraj Singh. How do you explain all these scenarios? You may have an explanation for one or two of them, but not all. When you consider all these circumstances as a whole, you can clearly see that Dhoni wanted Rahane to fail so that he can get some of his friends (read: Raina, Yuvraj) back in the team.

I think he himself requested management to play him in the middle order not as an opener. Patil also said he is picked as a middle order player. In SA ODI he was picked in place of injured Yuvraj, when Yuvraj became fit he came back. No explanation for Raina episode against NZ at home, on what basis Raina was picked when didn't do anything FC, and then on what basis he was picked in the XI. That was pure nepotism from Dhoni and Cheeka.

[dulker]

lul i aint pki bro

[G_B_]

I think he himself requested management to play him in the middle order not as an opener. Patil also said he is picked as a middle order player. In SA ODI he was picked in place of injured Yuvraj, when Yuvraj became fit he came back. No explanation for Raina episode against NZ at home, on what basis Raina was picked when didn't do anything FC, and then on what basis he was picked in the XI. That was pure nepotism from Dhoni and Cheeka.

lie.....

[saneindian]

If Dhoni hated Rahane or did not rate him, then the simple thing would have been to keep him out of the test and ODI squads, no? Rahane played a horrible shots on his debut vs Aus. Showed a terrible temprament and honestly didn't look ready. Prior to that he had looked technically inept vs Eng in the ODIs. And that is when Rohit regained his ODI spot as an opener and grabbed the chances. Despite all that, he retained his test spot and kept working hard on his game. He recently went back to Amre and worked on his technique before the SA series and did well. BTW OP IIRC you had said during the WI tests that Rahane will not get a spot in the 11 during the SA tests :)

[saneindian]

I think he himself requested management to play him in the middle order not as an opener. Patil also said he is picked as a middle order player. In SA ODI he was picked in place of injured Yuvraj, when Yuvraj became fit he came back. No explanation for Raina episode against NZ at home, on what basis Raina was picked when didn't do anything FC, and then on what basis he was picked in the XI. That was pure nepotism from Dhoni and Cheeka.

String of 50s in a ODI series in SL prior to the NZ tests and obviously being close to the captain and Cheeka helped.

[Texan]

BTW OP IIRC you had said during the WI tests that Rahane will not get a spot in the 11 during the SA tests :)

If we had played 5 bowlers with Jadeja (at least on paper) and Ashwin being able to bat, then of course Rahane would have been the guy that would have to sit out. The rest of the middle order picked itself.

[Texan]

If Dhoni hated Rahane or did not rate him, then the simple thing would have been to keep him out of the test and ODI squads, no?

No. Dhoni does not control selection of squads. He can influence selection, but ultimately, the selectors make these decisions. This was very clear when in a press conference he said that his reserve opener was Gambhir. When pointed out that Gambhir was not even in the squad, he said something to the effect that Gambhir was still his reserve opener whether in the squad or not. It was very clear he wanted Gambhir, but did not have his way with the selectors. The only reason Rahane got a chance in the XI was because the other option was Rayudu. With no Raina, Yuvraj as an option, he was forced to select Rahane.

[Texan]

String of 50s in a ODI series in SL prior to the NZ tests and obviously being close to the captain and Cheeka helped.

This was the biggest problem with our selection especially when Cheeka was heading the committee. Test teams were being picked on the basis of IPL performances.Raina is only good for T20s and ODIs. He was clearly exposed at the Test level. Yet, he kept getting chances.

[mancalledsting]

Raina holding back players like Chepu /Rahane from assuming their rightful spot as test batsmen was partly responsible for our 8-0/2-1 home loss to England in tests as it meant no ready made test batsmen for those tours that were available to arrest the slide . Instead we has to revert to proven failures like Raina and Yuvraj and rely on lazy galacticoes like Viru, Gauti to pull us out of trouble...which they never did

[saneindian]

No. Dhoni does not control selection of squads. He can influence selection, but ultimately, the selectors make these decisions. This was very clear when in a press conference he said that his reserve opener was Gambhir. When pointed out that Gambhir was not even in the squad, he said something to the effect that Gambhir was still his reserve opener whether in the squad or not. It was very clear he wanted Gambhir, but did not have his way with the selectors. The only reason Rahane got a chance in the XI was because the other option was Rayudu. With no Raina, Yuvraj as an option, he was forced to select Rahane.

Do you think that if a captain like Dhoni doesn't want a certain player in the squad (either due to favoritism or not rating him), selectors will still persist with the said player?