Definition of insanity - Playing Rahane in LOIs (especially T20s)

[Ultimate_Game]

...and expecting him to turn into a match-winner. The guy can't hit from the start, he can't clear boundaries and he can't take apart bowling even when he's set. What exactly is he selected in T20s for when we have likes of Manish Pandey and Kedar Jadhav on the sidelines? Because of Rahane being in the squad, essentially we don't have any replacement for a batsman if we want to replace anyone due to injury or form.

Let's keep our fingers crossed that none of our batsmen gets injured coz Rahane is gonna do jack shyte. Rahane is a Test batsman, and probably the best one we have, but why force him in LOIs when we have better options around?

[Sandeep99]

He was given A grade contract and I guess BCCI wants to justify that by playing him in all formats.. Insane.. absolutely!

[Ultimate_Game]

He was given A grade contract and I guess BCCI wants to justify that by playing him in all formats.. Insane.. absolutely!

Sad part is that anyone who has seen Rahane bat can see he's not a LOI player, just like Murali Vijay, but somehow the selectors can't. I mean do the selectors really expect Rahane to walk in with the team needing 60 to win off 35 balls and carry India to victory?

[Ankit_sharma03]

IN 17 t20 he has played

he has an avg of 20 and S/r of 113 and just one half centuary

He was given a chance in Ind-SL series- failed

Always expected to do well on tough pitches well be it pune or match against pak both fail

His selection is t20 is more baffling than selection of rohit in test . 

[Ankit_sharma03]

I am sorry this guy should be no where near T20S

He is fine for ODI's and Tests 

Pandey can easily replace him in t20's

For me even in Odi his spot is gone to Pandey now, Pandey one innings has outclasses his 67 ODi long career

N about t20 i can choose so many players over him. Uthaapa, gambhir, Samson n so many 

[Adi_91]

For me even in Odi his spot is gone to Pandey now, Pandey one innings has outclasses his 67 ODi long career

N about t20 i can choose so many players over him. Uthaapa, gambhir, Samson n so many 

Irony is, he should only be a Test player and he is a fantastic player in the format. He is made out for it and nothing else.

[Ankit_sharma03]

Irony is, he should only be a Test player and he is a fantastic player in the format. He is made out for it and nothing else.

No dobut about his Test status, i think at test level he along with kohli n vijay r backbone. 

ODi also he can play at open only, at best at 3 if n if virat is not avaialble

t20 to he shud be kept far far away

[PBN]

Rahane's only spot in t20s is the opening slot especially on flatter tracks.  Rahane struggle and finds it very difficult in the middle order

[Adi_91]

No dobut about his Test status, i think at test level he along with kohli n vijay r backbone. 

ODi also he can play at open only, at best at 3 if n if virat is not avaialble

t20 to he shud be kept far far away

Not been following IPL for 2 years now. Has he done anything at all in IPL?

[Ankit_sharma03]

Not been following IPL for 2 years now. Has he done anything at all in IPL?

he has been consistent in ipl always, 

But then in ipl u can always target weak domestic bowler and play 20 overs and end up making 70-80 runs.

N again in ipl i dnt think he plays match winning innings like a rohit,gayle, kohli, raina or even uthappa wud do. 

In Int cricket ull hardly get weak bowlers from any end and then the opening spot isnt available either, were else wud u play him

 

[Adi_91]

he has been consistent in ipl always, 

But then in ipl u can always target weak domestic bowler and play 20 overs and end up making 70-80 runs.

N again in ipl i dnt think he plays match winning innings like a rohit,gayle, kohli, raina or even uthappa wud do. 

In Int cricket ull hardly get weak bowlers from any end and then the opening spot isnt available either, were else wud u play him

 

Add to that, you don't build an innings expecially in this team with Yuvi still to get off and Pandya who is inexperienced. Makes Dhoni sound correct as he pointed this out last year, only for some fans and critics to raise questions of him.

[The Realist]

Malnourished Rahane is never going to be a limited overs player, not got the power, shots or skill set. Only the braindead selectors seem to think he has a career in that format. How on earth can he be the only back up batter in the squad?

If any of the batsmen are injured in the WC it will be an inevitable car crash with Rahane in the driver seat.

[Shivaji bhonsle]

Sandeep patil. :D

[HippoSucks]

Rahane can be good as an opener in LOIs, but not good enough to replace Dhawan. Rahane should only play the role of a back up opener, and even then there might be better options.  

[Lannister]

I called it ages ago. Even someone like Dhawan looks better than this guy, and that's saying something. He don't have the skillsets to be a successful LOI player.  The selectors has really botched it up by not going for Pandey, who's a superior bat to even Dhobi.

[HippoSucks]

I called it ages ago. Even someone like Dhawan looks better than this guy, and that's saying something. He don't have the skillsets to be a successful LOI player.  The selectors has really botched it up by not going for Pandey, who's a superior bat to even Dhobi.

It doesn't really say much. Dhawan is a clutch player and one of the best openers right now.  

[Ankit_sharma03]

Rahane can be good as an opener in LOIs, but not good enough to replace Dhawan. Rahane should only play the role of a back up opener, and even then there might be better options.  

Yes thts the only spot he can play at open, but dhawan has now made runs n he cant be dropped. Also world over in ODi wkts have become pretty flat and any day ill have dhawan over rahane on flat decks . N Rahane did get a chance at opening before Rohit in 2011, he did ok-ok. the again when rohit got injured in eng he had 10 matches to do something. He made runs but when a guys comes n scores 264 in one innings then u cnt keep his spot. 

The Problem with rahane is , he is not bad but u give him any position he ll do decent only. At 3 he did ok but kohli in one innings in chennai showed y he is better . Now at 4 again he did decent but Pandey comes n plays and innings of his lifetime. 

With Rahane ull not get something extraordinary, In Odi cricket players need to have tht x-factor if u want to be a top team.

 

[Lannister]

It doesn't really say much. Dhawan is a clutch player and one of the best openers right now.  

I remember fans calling for his head not too long ago. After a match winning knock against a minnow team and he's suddenly become a clutch player?  

[Bigg Brother]

Rahane looked great prospect when he started in England tour as opener in 2011..

He was flawless as opener in 2012 IPL..

But he is getting worse day by day now.

[WC2011INDIA]

What a bunch of impatient fellows.

Anyone knows how many ODI/T20 matches it took Rohit Sharma to become the player he is now? A LOT

Rohit's ODI record from 2007-2012 (exactly 5 years)

2007-2011

72

1810

114

34.80

2

6

2/27

52.00

0

26

0

-17.19

 scored 1810 runs from 72 matches.

His T20 record from 2007-2012 (exactly 5 years)

2007-2012

28

420

79*

30.00

0

1

1/22

88.00

0

12

0

-57.99

 

 

Now let's compare Rahane...

His record so far from 2011-2016 (less than 5 years)

overall

2011-2016

67

2093

111

33.22

2

-

-

-

-

37

0

-

Oh look!!!! less matches and yet crossed 2000 runs. Highest century is similar. And 2 centuries in 5 years.

His T20 record from 2011-2016 (less than 5 years)

overall

2011-2016

17

324

61

20.25

0

-

-

-

-

14

0

-

11 less matches than Rohit with no fixed position at all yet has 320+ runs. Obviously he is gonna perform poorly. Moreover, he is coming from an injury. Hasn't been the same since then with the bat. I will agree though that he has a lot to do if he wants to be a regular in t20 team. Needs to capitalize on whatever chances he gets and improve his striking ability. Maybe hit the gym and drink protein shakes.

Basically, the thing is that Rohit wasn't special at all in his first 5 years. He was worse than Rahane in ODIs and tests m toh he is masha allah subhan allah. Only in T20 he did better and that too because he got more games.

I feel Rahane needs to persisted with just like the management persisted with Rohit. Someone needs to back him the same way Rohit was backed by Dhoni during tough times. If that happens, he will emerge a much better cricketer in ODIs/T20s. 

Sabar ka phal meetha hota h. So have some patience u guys.

Edited March 13, 2016 by WC2011INDIA