Twitterati shocked as India drop Ajinkya Rahane for the first Test against South Africa

The first Test of the three-match series between India and South Africa will finally get underway at Newlands in Cape Town on Friday. The much-awaited series has already thrown a lot of surprises with South Africa dropping Temba Bavuma for AB de Villiers. They’ve also decided to attack India with four premier fast bowlers. The quartet of Dale Steyn, Vernon Philander, Morne Morkel and Kagiso Rabada will play together for the first time. However, the most surprising decision was to drop Ajinkya Rahane and Twitterati was literally left shocked.

Ajinkya Rahane was the best batsman for the visitors when they last toured the country and he was going through a lean patch during the home season. But the team management including the skipper Virat Kohli had backed him to come good in South Africa. But it seems that Rahane continued to struggle in the nets with the team emphasising a lot on current form. Though the decision to leave him out was harsh as he is the vice-captain of the Test side. It would be interesting to see the way things pan out in the game.

Bumrah makes his debut

The Indian team continued to throw surprises as they handed the debut to Jasprit Bumrah. As Kohli informed at the toss, he was the most impressive bowler at the nets but nobody would’ve expected him to get a crack in the first game of the series itself. He would be hoping to make the most of the opportunity presented and impress in his debut series now. The selections prove that the current Indian side isn’t feared to take tough decisions but a lot would be feeling currently for Ajinkya Rahane who has often become the scapegoat for the team.

He is already out of the ODI team with him being tipped as the backup opener for Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan. Rohit has taken his place in the side purely based on the form he is in. But his record overseas is not good at all and would be under pressure to perform given the team is playing a batsman less. Twitter was excited for the game to begin and lest expected the dropping of Rahane and naturally were disappointed. While they trolled Kohli for the same but welcomed Bumrah to Test cricket as well.

Here’s how Twitter reacted to the dropping of Rahane:

Wow, this Indian team not short of surprises. But they are backing words with actions. Playing the all-rounder and no Rahane is a huge call

— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) January 5, 2018

No Rahane is a JOKE, maybe out of form, but remember this guy’s away average was always better than average at home… you’ve to be a home-track bully to get picked, also tattoos?

— P₹akash $inha ?? (@Predicto_Praky) January 5, 2018

Rahane’s absence will be felt in the slip cordon too. Remember, India’s record in slips isn’t very good. Best hands dropped. #SAvIND

— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) January 5, 2018

Dropping Ajinkya Rahane has to one of the most stupidest decisions. You don’t want to drop a player because he had one bad series, that crushes his confidence completely. Plus dropping a vice captain doesn’t seem right. #SAvIND #INDvSA @ESPNcricinfo

— Rahil Shaikh (@rahil4798) January 5, 2018

Choosing flat track bully of limited over's cricket over a test specialist like Rahane who have scored runs in alien conditions. Only possible in India ?? #SAvIND

— Sayan Basu (@SayanBasuTweets) January 5, 2018

The rise of Rohit Sharma in Indian cricket is acceptable but the fall of Ajinkya Rahane should not be by any means.#INDvSA

— Umang Pabari (@UPStatsman) January 5, 2018

I know Rahane isn't in the best form, but Kohli has left out India's best overseas batsman.https://t.co/EclpXjQMD3 pic.twitter.com/9W38lQB8rO

— Anand Katakam (@anandkatakam) January 5, 2018

Since 2001, only two Indian batsmen average more than 50 in Tests outside the sub-continent against fast bowlers: Rahul & Rahane.

Both dropped for today's Test.

(Dravid & Tendulkar averaged 49 & 46 respectively in that period.)#SAvInd

— The Cricket Prof. (@CricProf) January 5, 2018

Pathetic team selection they dropped India's most consistent overseas performer Rahane & dropped KL who is >> Dhawan in test matches any day #IndvSA

— ßєคɾɖ Guყ ??? (@BeingFlicked) January 5, 2018

First impressions: If India wanted to play both Rohit and Pandya and leave out Rahane, they might have been better off with Rahul ahead of Dhawan. I would have gone with Ishant, but India must have seen some spark in Bumrah over the last few days to make that call.

— Karthik Krishnaswamy (@the_kk) January 5, 2018

I love Rohit more than anyone. But he shouldn’t play ahead of Rahane.

— RI (@Kahaanify) January 5, 2018

Is there anyone who can tell me why Rahane is dropped while he have highest Overseas Avgr in Current INDIAN Team#IndvsSA #SAvIND

— Being Msdian (@BeingMsdian25) January 5, 2018

Rahane dropped. Pandya in, Bumrah debut as 3rd pacer. This is a mad-hoc selection on the face of it. #SAvInd

— Chetan Narula (@chetannarula) January 5, 2018

Virat is a massive believer in current form. You see that in the team that he has picked up for the first Test. Rohit in Rahane out, Bumrah in, all based on that philosophy.#INDvSA

— Sanjay Manjrekar (@sanjaymanjrekar) January 5, 2018

The most successful batsman of last overseas season is left out of the 1st Test of current overseas season… Hard luck, Ajinkya Rahane #SAvIND @ajinkyarahane88

— Navneet Mundhra (@navneet_mundhra) January 5, 2018

By what logic do you play Rohit Sharma instead of Ajinkya Rahane on a swinging Cape Town pitch? #INDvSA

— Bored Wallaby (@BoredWallaby) January 5, 2018

Rahane averages better than Kohli in overseas conditions and being a low IQ sanghi mentality man, Kohli drops him. Well done.

— Loneranger A/c 2 (@Loneranger8609) January 5, 2018

Dropping Rahane doesn't seem right to me
He deserved to be backed
Like Kohli was after England in 2014
He is also our vice captain
And was our best batsman overseas last time #IndvSA

— AayushKataria (@aayush11kataria) January 5, 2018