Belongs to the Mumbai school of batsmanship, Ajinkya Rahane is a classical batsman with all the required traits which makes him a complete package. Those who have seen him bat remains in awe of his exemplary technique, perfect balance at the crease, and his compact style of batting which separates him from his contemporaries. He effortlessly checked his drives and played late without the wristy bottom-hand drive - a quality which most of the subcontinental batsmen of the generation lacks. In his second Ranji season for Mumbai, Rahane scored a mammoth 1089 runs and played an important part in helping his side lift the record 38th Ranji title. He is one of the few players to have scored 1000 runs in a single Ranji season. Despite being a complete player, the Maharashtra-born batsman has only managed to cement his place in the whites in the Indian team. With centuries in Wellington, Lords, Melbourne and a couple of consecutive fifties in Durban, Rahane has proved his mettle as foreign conditions expert where the ball holds an edge over the willow. Before the coveted 2019 World Cup, Rahane also has the chance of to grab that middle-order spot in Team India which is still waiting for the right candidate. Major teams India, India A, India Blue, India Emerging Players, India Under-19s, Mumbai, Mumbai Indians, Rajasthan Royals, Rising Pune Supergiants Playing role: Top-order batsman Batting style: Right-hand bat Bowling style: Right-arm medium
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Rahane also equals Sachin Tendulkar's record of becoming the only Indian captain to score a century at the MCG.
Comparing Rahane with India's regular skipper Virat Kohli, Gavaskar said that the right-handed batsman is quite aggressive in his tactics as captain even though he appears laidback.
Rahane is leading the side in the absence of regular captain Virat Kohli, who is on paternity leave.
Rahane's move to bring in Ravichandran Ashwin paid off as the experienced tweaker registered figures of 35/3 to pile on the misery on the hosts.
India then lost an out-of-form Mayank Agarwal (0) to Mitchell Starc but debutant Shubman Gill (28 batting) survived a hostile spell to hit some delectable boundaries in the day end score of 36 for 1 in 11 overs.
The former Indian wicket-keeper says the similarity in Mumbai and Melbourne opening day wicket prompted stand-in skipper Ajinkya Rahane to use Ashwin early on Day 1.
Australia opted to bat first the MCG on Saturday morning but the decision backfired as the hosts went three down for 65 at lunch.
India vs Australia 2nd Test, Day 1: Team India emerge on top after folding Australia for 195 and then remaining on 36/1 on day 1 of Boxing Day Test
While Kohli's absence can never be really compensated for, Rahane would like to show his character by promoting himself up the batting order.
Rahane revealed Kohli had dinner with the team before leaving for India on paternity leave; urged the team to play for each other and enjoy each other's success and help each other out on the field.
Rahane admits on being at fault for running out Kohli in the first Test when the Indian skipper was just 26 runs away from his first century of the year.
Rahane is standing in for regular skipper Virat Kohli who has returned to India to attend the birth of his first child.
Rahane will lead Team India in the last three Tests as Kohli has left for home on paternity leave.
More than the leadership responsibility, Rahane will also be replacing Kohli the batsman, and latter responsibility has been a major issue with him over the last few years.
India lost the opener in Adelaide following a horrifying collapse that saw the visitors succumb to 36 for nine in the second innings on day 3, their lowest ever Test total.
India started Day 3 of the pink-ball Test with a lead of 62 runs but they ended up collapsing for a record total of 36 -- their lowest of all time in Test cricket. Australia ended up winning the match by eight wickets.
Kohli, who looked in complete command, was run out when his deputy Ajinkya Rahane backed out after calling for a single.
Earlier in the day, India were struck with an early blow after electing to bat first. Opener Prithvi Shaw, continuing his woeful form with the bat, was bowled by Mitchell Starc's swinging delivery.
On Wednesday, even skipper Virat Kohli said that he expects his deputy to do a "tremendous job" in his absence and follow the "template" set by the team.
Virat Kohli said that both he and Rahane have a mutual understanding which is based on trust.
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