India vs England - Ajinkya Rahane Needs To Step Up For Lord's Test

Rahane is quite opposite to our beloved captain Kohli. While he is all fire, his deputy who just expresses with a deep sigh or a crooked smile, is all ice. But in the upcoming Lord's test, we can expect him to be anything but calm after India lost by 31 runs in the Edgbaston test. Rahane has always been India's hope on overseas tour but over the last year, he has lost that vigor and his determination seems quite empty to the fans. In the Edgbaston test, he was not able to tackle Ben Stokes' swing and angled the bat to give a catch.

In the second innings, when India was after a small target, he poked and didn't move his feet to inside-edge to keeper. He was barely looking as India's tough overseas match insurance with 12 off 34 deliveries and two off 16. The performance was quite opposite to what he said just 48 hours before the game. He said that he is really looking forward to the series and not putting pressure for results. It is more about the mindset than skills when you playing in England. It's also about how quickly you adapt to the situation, added Rahane. But the match didn't roll out according to his forecast. Rahane has always had a victorious history with hitting brilliant centuries abroad- like 114 in Wellington in 2014 and 105 in the same Lord's test in 2014 along with 147 at Melbourne in 2015. As India arrives for the second test in the Mecca of cricket, we are hoping he finds his composure and determination on the pitch.

By: Neha Maheshwari
Content: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/india-in-england/india-vs-england-can-ajinkya-rahane-redeem-himself-in-the-lords-test/articleshow/65300931.cms