After 417 days, Ajinkya Rahane finally got the opportunity to take off his helmet and raise his bat towards the dressing room on Thursday, when he made his 36th first-class century against Saurashtra on Day One of Mumbai’s Ranji Trophy opener in Ahmedabad. Rahane’s previous hundred had come back in December 2020 in the Melbourne Test against Australia.
Since that match, Rahane has averaged just 20.25 from 15 Tests, with only three fifties and a highest score of 67. On the recent tour of South Africa, he had scores of 48, 20, 0, 58, 9 and 1 in the three Tests, leading to more doubts being raised on his place in the Indian team.
Coming as it does ahead of the squad selection for the two Sri Lanka home Tests in March, the Ranji hundred will help Rahane make a case for himself. However, it remains to be seen if it will be enough for Rahane to hold on to his India spot.
Mumbai coach Amol Muzumdar said Rahane was under pressure but reacted well to the situation after Mumbai had been reduced to 44 for 3.
“It was an amazing knock, it was full of concentration. The amount of concentration and determination he showed, he was focussed to do it. He was under the pump a bit but he reacted to it well. He was in his zone, you could not move in,” Muzumdar said.
Sarfaraz’s red-ball form
Rahane came in at 22 for 2 in the eighth over after Mumbai captain Prithvi Shaw chose to bat. Both openers Shaw and Aakarshit Gomel could not get into double figures. But Rahane took charge at one end and also kept guiding young Sarfaraz Khan, who made his fifth first-class century in his 20th game.
The pair added an unbroken 219 runs for the fourth wicket in just under 75 overs. At stumps, Mumbai were 263 for 3 with Rahane and Khan unbeaten on 108 and 121 respectively.
Rahane took his time and faced 250 deliveries, off which he hit 14 fours and two sixes. Sarfaraz scored quicker in his 219-ball knock, which included 15 fours and a couple of sixes.
If Rahane showcased calmness on the field, Sarfaraz continued his red-ball form from the pre-pandemic days. Having made his comeback for Mumbai in 2019-20, Sarfaraz had made scores of 301 not out, 226 not out and 177 that season. He also made an unbeaten 71 for India A against South Africa A in Bloemfontein last November. He has shown an ability to scrap against the odds and continues to prove why he is a great character to have in a team.
“Maja aaya, what a knock. It was full of determination and timing. The boy has some character, his knock was full of character. He has a fighting spirit,” said an elated Muzumdar.
BRIEF SCORES: Mumbai 1st innings 263 for 3 in 87 overs (Sarfaraz Khan batting 121, Ajinkya Rahane batting 108) vs Saurashtra
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