After a forgettable outing with scores of 13 and 1 in the opening Test against England at Rajkot, Ajinkya Rahane, the only Indian batsman in the top 10, dropped four places to 9th in the latest International Cricket Council (ICC) Test rankings, released.

However, centurions in the first innings, Cheteshwar Pujara and Murali Vijay rose two spots each to No.11 and No.23 while skipper Virat Kohli’s match-saving unbeaten 49 in the second essay helped him gain a spot to No.14 in the list headed by Australia’s Steve Smith.

Ajinkya Rahane – The New Wall of Indian Cricket

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On the other hand, England’s teenage debutant opener Haseeb Hameed made an impressive entry to the list at No.64 after scoring 31 and 82 while centurions in the first Test Joe Root and Alastair Cook gained a spot each to be positioned at No.2 and No.10 respectively.

England’s other centurions Moeen Ali and Ben Stokes, were, however among the biggest movers outside the top-10 batters with Ali finding himself at No.26 after gaining six spots while Stokes is at No.32 with a leap of eight spots.

There was a lot of movement inside the top-10 with New Zealand’s Kane Williamson dropping a place to No.3, while South Africans Hashim Amla and Ab de Villiers gained a spot each to be placed at No.5 and 6.

Australia’s David Warner and Adam Voges also rose a spot each to be positioned at No.7 and 8. Pakistan’s Younis Khan retained his No.4 spot.

Sri Lanka batsman Dhananjaya de Silva (30th) and the Zimbabwe pair of Craig Ervine (56th) and Sean Williams (71st) have attained career-best rankings after their performances in the second and final Test between the two teams in Harare.

Meanwhile, India’s premier off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin continued to lead the bowler’s chart with Sri Lankan veteran Rangana Herath rising two spots to the second spot. Ravindra Jadeja also retained his No.7 spot while England duo of James Anderson and Stuart Broad lost a spot each to find themselves at No.4 and 6.

Another spinner to move up the rankings is England leggie Adil Rashid, who has gained 17 places to reach the 61st position after taking seven wickets at Rajkot.

England’s Stokes has reached a career-best third-ranking among all-rounders but is 56 points behind second-placed Shakib Al Hasan of Bangladesh and 106 behind top-placed Ashwin.

IANS

With all eyes on the controversial Decision Review System (DRS) during the upcoming Test rubber against England, Indian vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane on Monday said the team’s primary focus is to play aggressive cricket rather than banking on the technology.

“It’s a completely new concept. We have to wait and see about DRS. We have been discussing about this from the last series against New Zealand and we have some plans,” Rahane told reporters ahead of the opening game starting on Wednesday.

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“But the main focus is to play good, attacking cricket and DRS will come later on. We want to dominate the series. We have been playing some very good cricket over the last one and a half years.”

Rahane further emphasised on the importance of maintaining consistency and continue with the momentum.

“It’s important for us to be consistent. Yes our aim will be to dominate all their bowlers and the more we do it the better. It’s (also) important to start well in Rajkot and continue the momentum,” he said.

“We are looking to play some good cricket. Right now we are focussed on building our strength and playing to our strengths,” he added.

After citing lack of accuracy and objecting to its usage in the past many years, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) finally agreed to use the DRS on a trial basis for the upcoming five-match series against the English team.

The 28-year-old also focussed on the importance of staying fresh in a long five-match series, which he felt also gave an opportunity to bounce back once a team finds itself on the backfoot.

“In a five-match series it’s important to be fresh till the last Test. We played a five match series in England in 2014 and got an idea about how to approach. That was a great learning experience as a young unit.”

“It was important to remain fresh till the fifth match. You get an opportunity to come back while playing a five-match series,” he explained.

Rahane also warned his side against any sort of complacency while facing the new-look England attack, specially against the slower bowlers.

“Playing against England will be a challenge. They have a decent side; their bating line-up is pretty experienced. Their batsmen have been here. Yes their spinners are new. Their bowling attack is comparatively inexperienced, especially the spinners,” he said.

“But I always believe you have to give respect to all opponents whether their bowling attack is new or experienced. For us it’s important to focus on our strengths and we will be playing to our strengths and potential. I am sure it will be a good series,” he added.

IANS

Indian Skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni lost his first match in his home-town as the hosts went down fighting by 19 runs, enabling New Zealand level the five-match ODI series at the JSCA International Stadium.

Chasing 261, tailenders Dhawal Kulkarni (25 not out) and Umesh Yadav (7) put up a record 10th wicket stand of 34 against the Kiwis but the equation was too steep for them. In the end, India were all out for 241 in 48.4 overs.

Pacer Tim Southee (3/40) and all-rounder James Neesham (2/38) wrecked India’s chase as the hosts had only opener Ajinkya Rahane (57) scoring a fifty, failing to once again convert his good start.

Virat Kohli (45) and Axar Patel (38) tried to hold fort but wickets tumbled around them with Dhoni (11) also falling cheaply to Neesham. The downslide started with Rohit Sharma (11) falling early to a peach of an outswinging delivery from Southee.

Rahane was looking good tonking the first six of the match off Boult in the 6th over. The right-hander carted for fours off Southee and Boult.

With the fielding restrictions lifted after the first Powerplay, the Kiwis introduced spin, bringing Santner in the 10th over. Three over later, Ish Sodhi joined Santner but the skills of the Indian batsmen scored almost everytime over their rivals’ bowling.

One late cut off Sodhi in the 14th over by Kohli summed it up as the hosts were having a ball with spin from both ends.

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Just when the hosts were looking to cruise to an easy win with both Kohli and Rahane stitching a 79-run second wicket partnership at 5.04 per over, Sodhi sent the former packing.

Lunging at a poor delivery way outside off-stump, Kohli (45) looked to cut in vain giving an outside edge to Watling who took a fine catch.

Meanwhile, Rahane brought up his 16th fifty in the 25th over off Devcich as the tourists perhaps missed a trick by playing the left-armer who seemed to ease the pressure off Dhoni and Rahane at a time India could have been put in a spot of bother after the dismissal of Kohli.

But Neesham, in his second spell, did the damage getting Rahane LBW after the latter shuffled his stance and played across.

Ajinkya Rahane – The New Wall of Indian Cricket

Ajinkya Rahane (57) highest scorer for India in 4th ODI

Neesham was on the money again, this time castling the Indian captain with an incoming delivery which Dhoni missed all ends up with no foot movement whatsoever.

Manish Pandey and Axar Patel looked to put up a semblence of a fight before Pandey fell to a superb catch by Tom Latham at mid on with Southee picking up Kedar Jadhav plumb in front with his next delivery.

Amit Mishra and Axar Patel showed character for a 38-run eighth wicket stand until Mihra ran for a non-existent second run allowing Santer time to get him run out.

Patel followed suit in the same over, Boult yorking him from around the wicket. Kulkarni and Yadav tried their best but in the end the target proved too big for the lower orer batsmen.

Earlier, Martin Guptill top-scored for the tourists with 72 off 84 balls to set India a target of 261.

Williamson’s charges rued not putting more runs on the board after getting off to a flying start where they hit 12 boundaries in the first ten overs but only managed 13 in the next 40. Mishra returned with best figures of 2/42 getting the important scalps of Williamson and Neesham.

The Black Caps got off to a flying start and they were also helped by a missed catch. Amit Mishra grassed a difficult catch of Guptill (29) at mid-on in the seventh over, diving to his left but parrying his one-handed attempt towards long-on.

Patel outfoxed Latham (39) just when he and Guptill were looking good, with a slower one which the in-form opener swept to Ajinkya Rahane at short fine leg. Moments later, Guptill brought up his fifty in 56 balls. Guptill continued to score freely, racing to 72 in no time as the tourists reached 138/1 by the 26th over. 

Just when things were looking good for Guptill, Pandya snapped his stay with a short of length delivery that the right-hander edged to Dhoni behind the stumps.

Williamson met the same fate albeit a little earlier in his innings. Looking set at 41 off 58 deliveries laced with four fours, the right-hander fell prey to Mishra’s guile trying to cut the leggie and in the process nicking to Dhoni.

Neesham soon followed suit, this time Kohli taking a superb catch diving low to his left at cover off Mishra.

Watling and Taylor tried to up the ante but a swing of the bat from the wicket-keeper, who replaced Luke Ronchi, went only as far as Rohit Sharma who took a simple catch at fine leg.

Dhoni again accounted for Taylor soon after with the former collecting the ball in front of the stumps and then deflecting it back onto the stumps, all in one motion to catch the latter unaware.

Umesh picked up Anton Devcich as the Kiwis set India a target of 261 to wrap up the series. 

Team India coach Anil Kumble is pleased with opener Ajinkya Rahane’s form and asserted that the Maharashtra right-hander will continue to open the innings in the near future.

“At the moment Rahane certainly fits in at the top of the order. That is something we will persist with. It does give us an option once Shikhar (Dhawan) and K.L. Rahul are fit,” Kumble said. “We have a lot of time before the next ODI series against England. In this ODI series, Rahane will open the batting. Looking at the Champions Trophy we will then decide who is our opening combination.”

The former leg-spinner also said that although flexibility in the batting remains a target in limited-overs cricket, Manish Pandey is being looked upon as a potential fixture at the number four slot.

“We have a couple of options at that spot. Manish (Pandey) is someone who has done really well in the recent past. He started off well even in Dharamsala. Manish is someone who has shown promise and the performances to back it as well,” Kumble remarked.

“As someone who has just started his international career we do not want to put pressure on him by giving him specific plans as to what is expected of him. He is someone who likes the freedom. That is what we have given to someone like Hardik.

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Kumble backs Pandya to continue good form

With Hardik Pandya picking up the man of the match award in his One-Day International (ODI) debut during the first match against New Zealand, India coach Anil Kumble is confident that the all-rounder will bring in much needed balance to the team.

Pandya returned figures of 3/31 in the first match of the five-ODI series in Dharamsala last Sunday as India restricted New Zealand to a total of 190 runs.

Kumble asserted that such an encouraging performance on his ODI debut will give Pandya the confidence to perform well in the second match of the series as well. “He is someone who obviously gives us the right balance because he can bowl. He can not only bowl, he bowls at a pretty decent pace as well. It was nice that he really bowled well in the first game with the new ball. That was something that Dhoni wants him to try and it was heartening that he got the man of the match in his first game. 

“So it was something that I am sure will give him a lot of confidence. All-rounders who can run in and bowl quick and bat are certainly an asset. He is someone who will be closely monitored and we will see how he progresses. He certainly has the potential. He has shown his potential in the limited opportunities that he has got,” Kumble told reporters. 

Kumble, who refused to divulge the Indian playing XI, said the Ferozeshah Kotla ground here will be suitable for batting. “It should be a good surface for one-day cricket. It should be a good surface for batting. As far as (team) combination goes, we still have time. We will let you know tomorrow,” he said.

MS Dhoni and Virat Kohli

Kumble on Dhoni

The 46-year-old also asserted that India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni will continue to bat in his present position as he has the required experience to finish off a chase.

“It all depends on match situations. While chasing you need more experience. As far as MS is concerned, he has enough experience. He has shown over the years that he has enough capabilities as a batsman,” Kumble insisted.

“We don’t need to really look close at giving him time to settle in. You will probably see a different batting order depending on different situations.”

A perfect Dussehra gift for the Indian fans; a 3-0 whitewash by Team India as they mauled New Zealand by 321 runs in the third and final Test at Indore.

Ravichandran Ashwin once again single-handedly triggered another batting collapse of the Kiwis, to return with career-best figures of 7/59 in the visitors’ second innings, bundling them out for a paltry 153 in response to the mammoth target of 475. Ashwin, who took six wickets in the first innings of the Test, took his overall tally to 13 in the match, besides pushing a total to 27 scalps in the three Tests. 

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With the 3-0 clean sweep, India have now stamped their authority and clinched the No 1 ICC Test ranking from Pakistan. They had already bagged the top spot after winning the second Test at Kolkata.

The Chennai tweaker was well assisted by left-armer Ravindra Jadeja, who took two wickets in the second innings, while pacer Umesh Yadav chipped in with one wicket. Ashwin was adjudged both the Man of the Match and Series for his heroics with the cherry during the series. Such was the havoc wrought by the Indian spinners that the entire New Zealand second innings were wrapped up virtually in one session. 

Faced with a Herculean task, the New Zealanders failed to provide any kind of resistance to the Indian spinners on a track which gradually turned slow and low as the days progressed. 

Senior batsman Ross Taylor (32), opener Martin Guptill (29), skipper Kane Williamson (27) and stumper B.J. Watling (23 not out) got the kind of starts but failed to capitalise in their hurry for quick runs, which worked in favour of the hosts to wrap up the match on the fourth day.

Earlier, riding on Cheteshwar Pujara’s brilliant 101 and opener Gautam Gambhir’s 56-ball 50, India declared their second innings at 216/3 with an overall lead of 474 runs, just before the tea break.

Pujara was unbeaten on 101 runs off 148 balls with Ajinkya Rahane (23 not out) batting at the other end when Kohli decided to declare the innings midway through the post-lunch session.

The Saurashtra batsman, who has been in good form in this series, thus completed the seventh century of his Test career. He has also scored three half-centuries during the series.

Among the Kiwi bowlers, off-spinner Jeetan Patel was the only one to bag wickets with figures of 2/56. Patel trapped Kohli leg before shortly after lunch with a delivery that turned and hit the Indian captain on the pads after pitching just outside off stump. 

The Kiwi spinner of Indian origin had dismissed Gambhir during the morning session. The third wicket, that of Murali Vijay, fell to a run-out. During the morning session, Gambhir and Pujara hit half-centuries to carry India to a dominant position at lunch.

Gambhir (50), who has won back his place in the team after quite a long gap, completed his half-century off just 56 deliveries before being sent back to the pavilion by Kiwi spinner Jeetan Patel.

Earlier in the match, Kohli’s (211) second double ton and Rahane’s brilliant 188 guided India to a mammoth 557/5 declared before Ashwin stepped up with six wickets to skittle the visitors out for 299 and give the hosts a 258-run lead.

Both the teams will now face off in a five-match One-Day International (ODI) series. The first match is slated for October 16 at the picturesque Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association (HPCA) stadium at Dharamsala.

Complete Scorecard

India 1st innings
Murali Vijay c Latham b Patel 10
Gautam Gambhir lbw b Boult 29
Chetestwar Pujara b Santner 41
Virat Kohli lbw b Patel 211
Ajinkya Rahane c Watling b Boult 188
Rohit Sharma not out 51
Ravindra Jadeja not out 17

Extras 10 (b 4, lb 3, w 1, nb 2)
Total 557/5 (in 169 overs; 721 mins)

Fall of wickets 1-26 (Vijay, 4.5 overs), 2-60 (Gambhir, 19.5 overs), 3-100 (Pujara, 35.6 overs), 4-465 (Kohli, 147.6 overs), 5-504 (Rahane, 159.1 overs)

Bowling:
Trent Boult 32-2-113-2, MJ Henry 35-3-127-0, Jeetan Patel 40-5-120-2, Michell Santner 44-4-137-1, J Neesham 18-1-53-0

New Zealand 1st innings

MJ Guptill run out (Ashwin) 72
TWM Latham c & b Ashwin 53
KS Williamson b Ashwin 8
LRPL Taylor c Rahane b Ashwin 0
L Ronchi c Rahane b Ashwin 0
JDS Neesham lbw b Ashwin 71
BJ Watling† c Rahane b Jadeja 23
MJ Santner c Kohli b Jadeja 22
JS Patel run out (Ashwin) 18
MJ Henry not out 15
TA Boult c Pujara b Ashwin 0

Extras 17 (b 6, lb 5, w 1, pen 5)
Total 229/10 (in 90.2 overs; 352 mins)

Fall of wickets 1-118 (Latham, 34.2 overs), 2-134 (Williamson, 42.6 overs), 3-140 (Taylor, 44.5 overs), 4-148 (Guptill, 46.6 overs), 5-148 (Ronchi, 48.1 overs), 6-201 (Watling, 62.6 ov), 7-253 (Santner, 78.6 overs), 8-276 (Neesham, 86.2 overs), 9-294 (Patel, 88.2 overs), 10-299 (Boult, 90.2 overs)

Bowling: Mohammed Shami 13-1-40-0, UT Yadav 15-1-55-0, R Ashwin 27.2-5-81-6, RA Jadeja 28-5-80-2, M Vijay 7-0-27-0.

India 2nd innings

M Vijay run out (Guptill/†Watling) 19
G Gambhir c Guptill b Patel 50
CA Pujara not out 101
V Kohli lbw b Patel 17
AM Rahane not out 23

Extras 6 (b 4, lb 1, w 1)
Total 216/3 dec (in 49 overs)

Fall of wickets 0-11* (Gambhir, retired not out, 2.5 overs), 1-34 (Vijay, 13.4 overs), 2-110 (Gambhir, 29.6 overs), 3-158 (Kohli, 39.6 overs)

Bowling: TA Boult 7-0-35-0, JS Patel 14-0-56-2, MJ Santner 17-1-71-0, MJ Henry 7-1-22-0, JDS Neesham 4-0-27-0.

New Zealand 2nd innings (Target: 475)

TWM Latham lbw b Yadav 6
MJ Guptill lbw b Jadeja 29
KS Williamson lbw b Ashwin 27
LRPL Taylor b Ashwin 32
L Ronchi b Ashwin 15
JDS Neesham c Kohli b Jadeja 0
BJ Watling not out 23
MJ Santner b Ashwin 14
JS Patel b Ashwin 0
MJ Henry c Mohammed Shami b Ashwin 0
TA Boult c & b Ashwin 4

Extras 3 (b 2, nb 1)
Total 153 (in 44.5 overs)

Fall of wickets 1-7 (Latham, 1.4 overs), 2-42 (Williamson, 10.6 overs), 3-80 (Taylor, 18.3 overs), 4-102 (Ronchi, 22.4 overs), 5-103 (Neesham, 23.4 overs), 6-112 (Guptill, 25.3 overs), 7-136 (Santner, 32.5 overs), 8-138 (Patel, 34.1 overs), 9-138 (Henry, 34.4 overs), 10-153 (Boult, 44.5 overs)

Bowling  
Mohammed Shami 7-0-34-0, UT Yadav 8-4-13-1, R Ashwin 13.5-2-59-7, RA Jadeja 16-3-45-2

Skipper Virat Kohli hits an unbeaten 103 and his deputy Ajinkya Rahane (79*) helped India reach 267/3 at stumps on the opening day of the third and final Test against New Zealand at Indore.
Kohli, who got to his 13th Test century from 184 deliveries, added 167 runs for the fourth wicket with Rahane.

Rahane also became the 36th Indian batsman to cross the milestone of 2000 Test runs.

Ajikya Rahane hits an unbeaten 79

WatchIndia vs West Indies | HIghlights Virat Kohli 200 | Ashwin scores hundred

Ajinkya Rahane Hits a Classy Hundred | India vs West Indies 2nd Test Highlights

Earlier, Kohli won his seventh toss in a row and decided to bat first. Murali Vijay went out early. Comeback man Gautam Gambhir played some aggressive cricket to reach 29 with four fours and two sixes before being trapped leg before to Boult. Cheteshwar Pujara looke in good nick before gettin bowled by a Mitchell Santner. Rahane struggled early into his innings but kept his nerve to come out unscathed. Almost 19,000 attended the first ever day of Test cricket in Indore.

Here is the scorecard at the end of play on the first day of India’s third cricket Test match against New Zealand at the Holkar Stadium at Indore on Saturday.

India 1st innings (267/3) 

Murli Vijay c Latham b Patel 10
Gautam Gambhir lbw b Boult 29
Cheteshwar Pujara b Santner 41
Virat Kohli not out 103
Ajinkya Rahane not out 79

Extras 5 (b 1, lb 2, nb 2)
Total 267 (3 wickets; 90 overs)

Fall of wickets 1-26 (Vijay, 4.5 overs), 2-60 (Gambhir, 19.5 overs), 3-100 (Pujara, 35.6 overs)

Bowling:
Trent Boult 16-2-54-1, M Henry 20-3-65-0, Jeetan Patel 24-3-65-1, Mitchell Santner 19-3-53-1, J Neesham 11-1-27-0.

With inputs from IANS

It took an edged boundary to the third man for Ajinkya Rahane to reach his seventh Test hundred. But it is the composed celebration that followed afterwards, that has made us admire the cricketer even more. In this age of brash chest thumping and air punching, Rahane’s mild manners come in as a breath of fresh air.

After reaching his third Test hundred in last four innings, this is what the Mumbai batsman did. Lifted both hands to the air, hugged his batting partner Umesh Yadav and stole a glance to the sky thanking the Almighty. No doubt these were not bereft of emotion but done with the restraint that has become synonymous with Rahane.      

When the entire Indian team stood up to applaud, there was only genuine admiration for the man from Dombivali, Mumbai. This is what Rahane had to say to the media after scoring the hundred, “I was disappointed with the way I got out in the first Test. But, whether we play in India or abroad, what’s important for me is my process and preparations. I never think about scoring hundreds. I think the results will follow as long as I prepare well and my processes are right. I think about the small things that are helpful for me. At the same time scoring a hundred here is special, getting to the three-figure mark is really special for a batsman.”

Also Watch: Ajinkya Rahane Hits a Classy Hundred | India vs West Indies 2nd Test

A monk-like calmness hides a steely resolve that lies underneath, which is manifested in many of Rahane’s knocks in the middle. His unbeaten 108 off 237 balls in the second Test against the West Indies is one such example of sheer determination. The 28 year old’s martial arts background (Rahane is a black belt in Karate) has certainly helped him focus on the job better.

It’s a pure joy to watch Rahane in action in the field. The silken touch combined with gifted timing, makes him a class act. His safe hands in the slips and brilliant out fielding abilities have been a big bonus. But what sets him apart from others is the unique desire to fight against all odds and emerge victorious.

Ajinkya Rahane – The making of a Wall

The long wait to don the national cap

His struggle began early. After many sacrifices, he made his first class debut for Mumbai while still in his teens. Despite scoring heavily year after year in the domestic circuit, the national selectors looked the other way. Many of his contemporaries like Rohit Sharma, Robin Uthappa with less impressive domestic batting records got their chance ahead of him.

Rahane was not the one to get frustrated and instead kept scoring heavily to force himself into reckoning. His One-day debut finally came in 2011 and he had to wait another couple of years for his maiden Test appearance. But his stock in Test cricket arena rose sharply and soon he became the most dependable Indian batsman overseas; with five of his seven Test hundreds coming away from home.

Mastering the T20 challenge

When he realised IPL and Twenty20 is here to stay, Rahane went back to the drawing board – in this case to his batting coach Praveen Amre. Concentrated on building his forearm strength, in an effort to clear the boundaries in the Powerplay overs, while opening the batting for Rajasthan Royals. Indeed it helped him make a mark in IPL as an opener.

Dropped after being integral part of the team

Many eyebrows were raised when captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni dropped Rahane last year from the one-day playing XI in Bangladesh. It looked like Rahane had done enough to cement his place in all formats. Not only was he dropped but also Dhoni’s open criticism in the press conference afterwards must not have helped. “We all felt that Ajinkya would do really well as a third opener,” said Dhoni. “But we have had to move him up and down to the order. Thing is, Rahane needs pace. We have seen that he plays a lot better when there is pace on a wicket. Whenever he has played at No. 4 or No. 5, if the wicket is slow, then he struggles to rotate the strike freely. Especially when he is just starting his innings, he has a bit of trouble.”

Rahane never sulked and tried to take it positively. In a surprising move, the national selectors showed their full faith in Rahane and picked him to captain the team touring Zimbabwe as top players were rested. It was a tough few weeks for Rahane, from being dropped to being named captain of Team India.  But the resolute man that he is, Rahane was praised for his captaincy in Zimbabwe as India won the ODI series 3-0. Since then Rahane is slowly clawing his way back into India’s limited overs side.

 High Praise from his mentor

Coming from Mumbai it’s no surprise Rahane looked up to Sachin Tendulkar for inspiration and got his place in the sun only after Tendulkar hung up his bat. And this is what Sachin wrote about Rahane in his book Playing it My Way, “I had known Rahane for years and had seen how much he loves the game. He has served cricket with complete dedication and commitment over the last few years. I said to him that he might feel hard done by what had happened in his career so far, but should continue to be the way he is, for I was sure Ajinkya would get another chance.” Looking at how Rahane’s career has shaped up and the way he has conducted himself both on and off the field, Sachin must be really proud of this fellow Mumbaikar. 

By Rajesh Sahu (rajesh@glinttv.com)

Ajinkya Rahane is a class act. A monk-like calmness might hide his steely resolve. That is manifested in many of his knocks. Rahane’s unbeaten 108 off 237 balls in the second Test match against the West Indies is one such and the Mumbai batsman will take pride in it.

This is Rahane’s third Test century in his last four innings. Batting at the difficult position of number 5, mostly with the tail-enders, is tough. But Rahane, who mostly bats at number 3 in the domestic circuit, has thrived at the difficult number 5 position. Rahane’s latest century came studded with 13 fours and three sixes.

Also Watch: India vs West Indies Highlights | KL Rahul’s magnificent hundred

Out of his seventh Test tons, five have come away from home. In the last 8 consecutive Test series, Rahane has made at least one score of 90 or more.

The Indian cricket team reached West Indies on Thursday after a very long flight. A young Team India,  led by Virat Kohli, will play four Test matches against the hosts West Indies. The first Test  will be played at Antigua from July 21. We capture the entire journey from boarding the bus in Mumbai to the players’ hitting the beach at St Kitts. 

It’s not often you see Indian cricketers parading themselves on big ticket Gala Night red carpet. But when you have Virat Kohli hosting the event you don’t ask questions, you just show up. So catch MS Dhoni, Virat Kohli, Yuvraj Singh, Ajinkya Rahane, Umesh Yadav, KL Rahul, Ashok Dinda at the Virat Kohli Foundation Charity Gala Dinner.