Mumbai: Former Indian batsman Praveen Amre criticised the Indian team management for leaving out Test vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane in the first test against South Africa in Cape Town. The hosts, defending 208, skittled out the Indians for just 135 and won the contest by 72 runs.
Rahane was under a rough patch ahead of the series where he failed to score against Sri Lanka at home and Amre felt that India should have taken a cue from England who backed an out-of-form Alastair Cook in the recently concluded Ashes series.
“It’s shocking to see him dropped,” said Amre, who has been Rahane’s longtime coach.
“Unfair. He was batting well in the nets. This is not like the Ashes where we’re going to play five Test matches. You have to go with your best side.”
The 29-year-old Rahane has been one of the best performers with the bat for India, averaging 53.44 in overseas tours and his exclusion from the team for the first test indeed was surprising. The Mumbai batsman also worked hard to perfect his technique which would help him face up to the South African pace attack.
“Ajinkya has been a proven performer overseas, particularly in South Africa. We all know he’s really a strong character and I’m sure he’ll take this in his stride. But what’s the message being given to him?,” questioned Amre.
Amre, who is now one of the most sought-after coaches in Mumbai’s cricket circuit emphasised on the importance of backing of the team management in such cases.
“One bad performance shouldn’t result in such hard measures. If he’s a vice-captain, it means he’s a key player. Look at how the England team management has backed Cook at the Ashes,” said Amre, before adding, “Backing from the team management was crucial.”