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SPORTS DECEMBER 25, 2020 | The Indian Eye 48

after sydney humiliation, India look up to rahane for leadership at mCg

wrote, “Don’t get why @klra-
hul11 is dropped for the boxing
test! #BoxingDayTest.”
Surprisingly, there was no
room for Rahul in the playing
XI. The wicket-keeper batsman
did not play a single game after
the limited-overs series against
Australia. He missed two prac-
tice matches against Australia
A and the first pink-ball Test at
Adelaide Oval.
Stand-in skipper Ajinkya mohammad shami is out of action
Rahane on Friday said it is a for the remaining of the series
proud moment for him to cap- (Photos: Icc Twitter/ ANI)
tain India adding that the job
will be a mix of opportunities who passed away in September
and responsibilities. Ishant sharma in Mumbai.
“It’s a proud moment for me Ahead of a planned com-
to captain India and obviously the likes of Virat Kohli who ex- confident in what he wants to memoration of Jones’ life during
it’s a great opportunity and re- presses himself in an aggressive do. I must say that he’s a bowl- the tea break at the Melbourne
sponsibility as well. I don’t want mod,” Srikkanth told ANI. er’s captain because whenever Cricket Ground (MCG), Jane
to take any pressure and I want “Maybe change in fortune Virat has not been around on Jones has confirmed the cause
to back my team,” Rahane said with the captain also and if new the field, Jinks always asked of her husband’s death was not
in a virtual press conference on ideas put, he might set the dif- me what kind of field you want, a heart attack, but a catastroph-
the eve of the Boxing Day Test. ferent benchmark in the coming when you want to bowl just tell ic stroke, The Sydney Morning
“Australians are very good at Test match,” he added. me, or if you want to go on (bowl- Herald reported. The Victorian
playing mind games and then let The former Indian skipper ing),” Ishant said during an in- Coroner is now investigating,
them do that. We are just focus- said if Rahane proves his worth, terview with ESPN Cricinfo. with the family keen to find out
ing on ourselves; we will back he may be an option for the In- “So, I think he is a bowler’s whether any head knocks he
ourselves as a team as a unit,” dian selectors in the near future. captain. He is not someone took while batting during his il-
Rahane said. “It’s too early to say because the who’ll say: do this or do that. lustrious career, or a car crash
track record of Virat is by far Even when Virat is there (as he was involved in Melbourne
a proven record
one of the best in Indian history captain), he (Rahane) will keep shortly before his death, had
Former chief selector Krish- as a captain. I won’t look at that on asking, I do not know about been factors.
namachari Srikkanth feels In- way but if Rahane is able to es- others, but he asks me every sin- “It is actually under a cor-
dia’s stand-in captain Ajinkya tablish himself as a Test match gle time: ‘How many overs you oner’s inquiry at the moment,
Rahane may set different bench- captain in absence of Kohli, I want to bowl so I will speak to not that they think there is any-
marks in the ongoing Test series think it gives an option for the Virat’,” he added. thing other than what they have
as he has a proven record in the Indian selector and Indian team While admitting it is not found, but just that he was a bit
longest format of the game. to look at,” said Srikkanth. easy for everyone to match what young to have the stroke the
Rahane, who was India’s Kohli brings to the table, Ishant way it happened,” The Sydney
third-highest run-scorer in Ishant backs rahane said Rahane will be able to lead Morning Herald quoted Jane as
the pink-ball Test, had led the India pacer Ishant Sharma the team well in pressure situa- saying.
side to an eight-wicket victory feels stand-in skipper Ajinkya tions. Dean was given a private
against Australia in the fourth Rahane is a “bowler’s captain” “The kind of energy Virat farewell lap on the MCG’s hal-
Test in Dharamsala in 2017. and believes that the batsman brings to the table, I do not think lowed turf, his favourite ground,
The former India opener said will bring calmness on the field every other person can match as part of his memorial by his
Rahane has a proven track re- as the middle-order batsman that... Rahane will provide calm devastated family in October
cord in Test cricket and added gears up to lead the team for the energy, especially in a pressure during Melbourne’s lockdown.
that the team’s fortune can take remaining three Tests against situation. He will communicate But now comes a time when his
a positive turn with the new Australia. with the bowlers very well,” he hometown fans who enjoyed his
skipper’s calming influence. Ishant believes Rahane is said. thrilling innings over the years
“The new leader Rahane has a a confident cricketer and loves can pay their respects.
proven record in Test matches, communicating with the players tribute to Dean Jones Earlier this year, the former
like how he led the Indian team on the field. “He is very confi- The opening day of the Box- Australia cricketer turned com-
in Dharmshala. He has a good dent. He is very calm. I cannot ing Day Test between India and mentator passed away in Mum-
record in Test. As a personality say he does not have a sense Australia on Saturday will wit- bai. He represented Australia in
also he has a calming influence of humour, obviously, he jokes ness a special tribute to former 52 Tests and 164 One-Day In-
on the players, he is not sort of around with us. But he is very Australia batsman Dean Jones, ternationals.

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