Harbhajan Singh terms Ajinkya Rahane a ‘lower order batsman’ after latter’s issues against short balls

The Indian batting has floundered in their ongoing two-match Test series against New Zealand that they are currently trailing by 0-1. After the 10-wicket drubbing at the Basin Reserve in Wellington, the visitors are in dire straits even in the second Test at the Hagley Oval in Christchurch. One of the batters, who haven’t found it easy by any means is Ajinkya Rahane.

In four innings, Rahane has managed 91 runs at a disastrous average of 22.75. His travails were palpable in the second innings of the current Test. He spent 59 minutes in the middle, scoring nine runs off 43 balls. In the end, he perished to Neil Wagner’s short delivery. The batsman tried to guide the ball through the fine leg region but made an absolute meal of the ball.

Harbhajan lashes out at Rahane

He was almost through his shot as the ball arrived, eventually chopping in on to the stumps. It was an indifferent stay for Rahane in the middle as he never looked like getting the measure of the conditions and the Kiwis’ bowling. In the meantime, Harbhajan Singh, the veteran Indian spinner, wasn’t satisfied with Rahane’s approach by any stretch of the imagination.

Singh, who was on commentary, expressed his displeasure, saying that Rahane wasn’t able to cope up with the short deliveries. As per Harbhajan, Rahane was playing alike a tail-ender and not a top-order batsman, reported by Hindustan Times. He even stated that it was his worst innings and Wagner’s short balls made him look like a struggling lower-order batter.

Rahane’s travails can also be comprehended from the fact that he played in the Tests at a strike-rate of 32.15, lower than all specialist batsman. As far as the game is concerned, India are leading by 97 runs, but only have four wickets left in the shed in their second innings.

Trent Boult churned out three wickets and broke the backbone of the Indian batting. Colin de Grandhomme got the prized wicket of Virat Kohli, the Indian captain. Hanuma Vihari and Rishabh Pant are the overnight batters for India going into the third day.