Is Rahane Captaincy In Test A Danger For Virat Kohli? Here Are Some views Of Formers On It

Ajinkya Rahane's ability to lead a weak Indian team, with many second string or young players to a Test series victory over Australia, has put pressure on regular skipper Virat Kohli to prove hims

Rahane's field placements have received accolades and so has been the calm manner in which he handled the team after the loss in Adelaide. Most importantly, he led from the front with a century in the second Test in Melbourne when the chips were down.

Former India captain and top batsman Dilip Vengsarkar pointed to Rahane's excellent temperament.

"He is calm and composed. He scored a tremendous 100 in Melbourne when India had backs to the wall and that performance acted as a morale booster. Others also responded. Australia are a formidable team," Vengsarkar told on Wednesday.

"His bowling changes, field placements were also impressive. The dismissals of batsmen were planned. He led well despite half of the team unavailable for selection at the Gabba," Vengsarkar said. "Credit needs to be given to the bowlers too as they bowled to the plan."

Vengsarkar, who was man of the series in the 1986 Test series in England that India won and has the unique feat of scoring three successive Test tons at Lord's, however, declined to compare Rahane's captaincy with Kohli's.

Though Kohli led the team to a 2-1 series win over Australia in Australia in 2018-19, India's first in history of Test cricket, there have been concerns over his captaincy with critics pointing out selection blunders that have cost India possible Test match wins in South Africa and England.

Rahane's calm and composed demeanour and his ability to back players without showing aggression has been acknowledged with former players like Sachin Tendulkar praising his controlled aggression.

Rahane's gesture of handing Nathan Lyon a jersey signed by the team on the Aussie off-spinner's 100th Test at the Gabba on Tuesday and him asking the entire Afghanistan team to join the Indian team in the trophy photo-shoot after the newest member lost their Test debut in 2018 has been widely acknowledged and appreciated.