The vice-captain, together with KL Rahul at the beginning and later with Hanuma Vihari, erected the Indian spine by rebuilding the innings.
Ajinkya Rahane of India hits 4 during day 1 of the 1st Test between West Indies and India at Vivian Richards Cricket Stadium in North Sound, Antigua and Barbuda, on August 22, 2019. (Photo by Randy Brooks / AFP)
Vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane played a gritty knock of 81 to rescue India from a precarious situation on Day 1 of the first Test against West Indies.
After winning the toss, West Indies skipper Jason Holder invited India to bat first on a tricky Antigua wicket. The likes of Kemar Roach and Shannon Gabriel vandalised the top order of Indian batting lineup and reduced the hosts to 25 for 3, and then Rahane stepped in.
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The vice-captain, together with KL Rahul at the beginning and later with Hanuma Vihari, erected the Indian spine by rebuilding the innings. Unluckily, Rahane missed out on a first Test century in over two years when he chopped one on to the stumps off Shannon Gabriel on 81 but the 31-year-old said that he wasn’t too bothered about that.
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“As long as I am at the crease, I am thinking about my team, I am not a selfish guy,” he said in a press conference after the day’s play on Thursday. “So yes, I am not too concerned about the hundred as I thought 81 on that wicket was really crucial as we are now in a decent position. As long as I am contributing for my team, (that) is what matters. Yes, I was thinking about my hundred but the situation we were in – 25 for 3 – was tricky. As I have said, I just thought if I could contribute for my team. I am not too concerned about my hundred as that will come automatically.
“It (the knock) was important as we were playing a Test match after a long time, nearly seven months (vs Australia in January) and I wanted to hang in there, play as many balls possible and take my team to a good position,” said the classy batsman from Maharashtra.
Rahane added that the wicket was a tricky one in the beginning of the innings because of which he and Rahul were not thinking too far ahead. He said that it was important at the time to preserve their wicket and the run rate was not something they were considering.
The play on Day 1 was called off with India on 203 for 6 as rains marred the game.
Brief scores: India 203 for 6 (Rahane 81, Rahul 44, Roach 3/34) vs West Indies.
(With inputs from IANS)
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