Former India captain Sourav Ganguly feels it`s time that Mumbai batsman Ajinkya Rahane get his maiden Test cap in the fourth and final Test against Australia beginning in the capital tomorrow.
|Last Updated: Mar 21, 2013, 07:50 PM IST|Source: Bureau
Kolkata: Former India captain Sourav Ganguly feels it`s time that Mumbai batsman Ajinkya Rahane get his maiden Test cap in the fourth and final Test against Australia beginning in the capital tomorrow.
"Rahane has sat out for long. It`s not healthy for a player`s development. I think he should play and open the innings and (Cheteshwar) Pujara should stick to No 3," Ganguly said about Rahane who has been part of the India`s Test squads for about 16 months.
Ganguly felt that Shikhar Dhawan`s injury might just give Rahane the much-awaited opening into the team.
Recalling about Suresh Raina`s celebrated debut against Sri Lanka in July 2010, Ganguly said, "Yuvraj Singh was unfit then as Raina got his maiden Test cap and scored 120 - the last century on debut before Dhawan`s (in Mohali) knock."
Dhawan, who hit a record-breaking 187 on his debut at Mohali Test, was ruled out for six weeks with a fracture to his left-hand as the selectors drafted in Raina in the only change to the squad for the last Test.
Ganguly further said India are in course for an unprecedented 4-0 whitewash with another spin-fare at Kotla.
"I would not be surprised if the Aussies were handed a 4-0 defeat," Ganguly told a regional TV channel.
There might be a cloud of uncertainity over skipper Michael Clarke but Ganguly said, "In such times of crisis, Clarke is the right person to lead the side.
"I`m not sure about the extent of his injury; if Clarke should play if he`s 50-50 fit."
With Indians playing non-stop cricket, Ganguly hoped that the players remain fit for the ICC Champions Trophy in England.
By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts.
Cookies Setting
By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device and the processing of information obtained via those cookies (including about your preferences, device and online activity) by us and our commercial partners to enhance site navigation, personalise ads, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. More information can be found in our Cookies and Privacy Policy. You can amend your cookie settings to reject non-essential cookies by clicking Cookie Settings below.
Manage Consent Preferences
Strictly Necessary Cookies
These cookies are necessary for the website to function and cannot be switched off in our systems. They are usually only set in response to actions made by you which amount to a request for services, such as setting your privacy preferences, logging in or filling in forms. You can set your browser to block or alert you about these cookies, but some parts of the site will not then work or you may not be able to login.
Functional Cookies
These cookies enable the website to provide enhanced functionality and personalisation. They may be set by us or by third party providers whose services we have added to our pages. If you do not allow these cookies then some or all of these services may not function properly.
Targeting Cookies
These cookies may be set through our site by our advertising partners. They may be used by those companies to build a profile of your interests and show you relevant adverts on other sites. They are also used to limit the number of times you see an advert as well as help measure the effectiveness of an advertising campaign. They do not store directly personal information, but are based on uniquely identifying your browser and internet device. If you do not allow these cookies, you will experience less targeted advertising.
Performance Cookies
These cookies allow us to count visits and traffic sources so we can measure and improve the performance of our site. They help us to know which pages are the most and least popular and see how visitors move around the site. All information these cookies collect is aggregated and therefore anonymous. If you do not allow these cookies we may not know when you have visited our site, and may not be able to monitor its performance.