Ajinkya Rahane will have added responsibility on his shoulders during India’s tour of Australia. The Indian vice-captain will not only be the middle-order mainstay for his country in Australian conditions but will also most likely lead the side in the final three Tests of the tour. Virat Kohli has opted out of the final three Tests as his wife Anushka Sharma is due to give birth in January and his absence will be dearly missed by the team.
With Kohli missing, Rahane will be the one to lead the side in important Test matches in Sydney, Melbourne and Perth. And former India spinner Harbhajan has a piece of advice for him.
Harbhajan has said that Rahane has his own personality and it would be a mistake for him to try and copy Virat Kohli’s leadership style in the final three tests against Australia.
“He’s very calm and composed, not so expressive. He’s very different to Virat Kohli,” Harbhajan, who played 103 tests and 236 one-dayers between 1998-2015, told Sport Tak digital channel.
“I would like to remind Rahane that he doesn’t need to change his game or personality.
“Looking at a personality like Virat, Rahane might think that he has to adopt some of it to beat Australia. But I don’t think that’s necessary.
“All Rahane needs to do is be himself and make sure he gets the best out of his team.”
{{/usCountry}}“All Rahane needs to do is be himself and make sure he gets the best out of his team.”
{{/usCountry}}Under Kohli, India beat Australia 2-1 in 2018/19, becoming the first Asian side to triumph in a test series Down Under.
Harbhajan had no doubts India would miss Kohli, also their batting mainstay.
“Virat has an unbelievable record in Australia, something every batsman aspires. So definitely India is going to miss Kohli in the batting unit.
“Then his experience as captain. His aggression, leading from the front, that is Virat Kohli.
“He always puts his best foot forward. His body language, his intent ... India is going to miss him.”
The tour begins in Sydney on Nov. 27 with the first of the three one-day internationals, which will be followed by an equal number of Twenty20 matches.
(with Reuters inputs)