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'He's one of those nice and quiet guys who won't say anything'
'He has been pushed to number three when he had success at number five'
Former captain Sunil Gavaskar lashed out at the team management’s decision to make Ajinkya Rahane bat at number three in the first innings of the second Test against Sri Lanka, on Thursday, saying it "sacrificed" an "uncomplaining" cricketer.
Rahane has almost made the number five slot his own in Tests, but the team management reshuffled the batting order, forcing him to bat at three and Rohit Sharma at five.
"I have just got to be blunt. They have just sacrificed a good man. He's one of those nice and quiet guys who won't say anything. He has been pushed to number three when he had success at number five. It's hard on him," Gavaskar told NDTV, after the end of the first day’s play.
"But he will do whatever is needed. He comes from Rahul Dravid school. Rahul had also batted number three and five. He's Rahane's mentor and he (Rahane) will do the same thing.
"If Virat bats at number four, number three is open to discussion.
"Rahane has this tendency to reach out to the ball. He did it in New Zealand and South Africa. It's better if he bats at number four of five when the ball is not doing much. He's loyal and an uncomplaining servant of Indian cricket in his short career."
Rahane could score only four runs; the bulk of the scoring was done by young opener Lokesh Rahul (108), skipper Kohli (78) and Rohit (79).
Gavaskar was mighty impressed with Rahul's showing on Day 1 of the Test.
"He's got such a good temperament. He got behind the line (of the ball). He was very impressive. The only thing is that he is an impulsive hooker. It's no bad thing but he's got to be sure which one to hit and which one to leave."
The former India captain felt Rohit Sharma played a "career defining knock to an extent" since there was a lot of pressure on him to perform.
"He has made the most of opportunity. There was already a partnership between Kohi and Rahul, the Lankan bowlers were tired. It was right time to come in and bat and he capitalised on that," he said.
Gavaskar said batting lower down the order suits Rohit Sharma more.
"He has this tendency to reach out to ball. When the ball is moving, it's difficult for him to change the shot. It's better if he bats lower down the order."
He also lamented that India does not have bowlers who can pick wickets consistently.
Image: Ajinkya Rahane
Photograph: Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images