Ravi Shastri reveals the reason why Ajinkya Rahane was not picked in first two Tests

India coach Ravi Shastri has defended the team management’s decision of leaving out experienced batsman Ajinkya Rahane out of the playing XI in the first two Tests in South Africa while saying that Rohit Sharma was the best option. One of the most experienced and successful batsmen in overseas condition, Rahane was left out of the playing XI for both the Cape Town and Centurion Tests.

Indian management went with the limited over the form of Rohit Sharma over the experience of Rahane in the middle order against the Proteas. However, Rohit Sharma’s selection has terribly backfired for Virat Kohli and co as they have slipped to a 2-0 scoreline after two games in the series. A struggling Rohit in the middle of the batting order has not helped India in either of the two tests.

Sharma’s inability to face the tough test of the Proteas quicks has caught the attention of the fans and management, who are likely to replace him with Rahane in the final Test of the three-match series.

What did Ravi Shastri say?

“If Ajinkya (Rahane) had played the first Test and not done well, you would have asked me the same question about why Rohit hasn’t played. Rohit played, he didn’t do well, so you are asking me why Ajinkya didn’t play,” a defiant Shastri told reporters when queried about the selection policy.

Another controversy that surrounded the Indian team was the selection of Ishant Sharma over the in-form Bhuvaneshar Kumar in the series decider, “The same would have happened with the fast bowlers. So you have choices. The team management has discussed what is the best option. They stick by it and they go by it,” Shastri said as quoted by Sportskeeda.

As per the reports and the practice sessions till yesterday, it is to suggest that the vice-captain Rahane will return to the fold after being left out of the limited overs form of Rohit Sharma for the Test that starts on Wednesday.