After the disappointing IPL 4, I have found IPL 5 thoroughly entertaining. The quality of cricket has been amazing. A lot of swashbuckling innings, players innovating with different shots has been the order of the day. Among all this carnage and flamboyance there lies an opening combination in the Rajasthan Royals's, which brings sanity back to the IPL. I would like to call them the 2 Rs : Rahul and Rahane. In this edition of IPL, the Rahul-Rahane combination as by far been the most enjoyable to watch. They do not bludgeon the ball. They are not cruel to the cricket ball, the just caress the ball gently. They treat the ball with so much grace. Without being brutal they have given some excellent starts to their team.
Rahane has shown what a prospect he can be for the future. His ability to score at a fantastic rate without slogging has been a treat to watch. He seems to have all the ingredients to be the face of the Indian batting in the future. His six over extra cover against Muralitharan was testimony for his ability. It is too early to say anything about Ajinkya, but one thing is assured - There are exciting times in ahead in his career and in Indian Cricket.
Dravid on the other hand, has shown his fantastic ability to adapt to the shortest format of the game. Dravid has never been a natural limited over player. He can rarely be associated with playing cameos. For a player like him to adapt to T20 cricket is amazing. The way he has played is an inspiration everyone. He is yet again shown that not being blessed with natural ability should never be a hindrance for achieving success. In fact Dravid never needed to be good at T20. With his fantastic Test record, he could have easily snubbed the format and said, 'That is not my cup of tea'. But again, here was vintage Rahul - Willingness to learn and improve even after such an illustrious career.
It is a very interesting combination that exists. While one is the emerging face of Indian cricket the other is the beautiful past of the same. It is a perfect amalgamation of the past with the future. While Rahane is trying to learn all the new tricks of the trade the other is a veteran ready to pass on all the knowledge. For an emerging cricketer like Rahane he could not have asked for a better captain and an opening partner. As Harsha Bhogle said in one of his video blogs, there exists a kind of Guru-Shishya relationship between the two.
This is the beauty of the IPL. It allows combinations like these. Where else could Ajinkya Rahane would have got an opportunity to open with Rahul Dravid. After this tournament, Rahane can come out absorbed in the knowledge he gained from his mentor Rahul Dravid.
I am not raising my hopes or expectations, but I would be keenly watching the growth of Ajinkya Rahane. And must confess, in some corner of heart I do imagine him becoming the next big thing in Indian cricket.
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| The Shishya getting the reward from his Guru |
Dravid on the other hand, has shown his fantastic ability to adapt to the shortest format of the game. Dravid has never been a natural limited over player. He can rarely be associated with playing cameos. For a player like him to adapt to T20 cricket is amazing. The way he has played is an inspiration everyone. He is yet again shown that not being blessed with natural ability should never be a hindrance for achieving success. In fact Dravid never needed to be good at T20. With his fantastic Test record, he could have easily snubbed the format and said, 'That is not my cup of tea'. But again, here was vintage Rahul - Willingness to learn and improve even after such an illustrious career.
It is a very interesting combination that exists. While one is the emerging face of Indian cricket the other is the beautiful past of the same. It is a perfect amalgamation of the past with the future. While Rahane is trying to learn all the new tricks of the trade the other is a veteran ready to pass on all the knowledge. For an emerging cricketer like Rahane he could not have asked for a better captain and an opening partner. As Harsha Bhogle said in one of his video blogs, there exists a kind of Guru-Shishya relationship between the two.
This is the beauty of the IPL. It allows combinations like these. Where else could Ajinkya Rahane would have got an opportunity to open with Rahul Dravid. After this tournament, Rahane can come out absorbed in the knowledge he gained from his mentor Rahul Dravid.
I am not raising my hopes or expectations, but I would be keenly watching the growth of Ajinkya Rahane. And must confess, in some corner of heart I do imagine him becoming the next big thing in Indian cricket.
I have been following this kid from sometime now and i really feel he should have got his chances in Tests before the T20 and ODI's. If not playing, atleast travelling with people like Sachin, Dravid, Laxman would only improve him.
ReplyDeleteI would like to see him playing test matches very soon
Well, me too. It is ironical that we spotting a Test Match Talent in the IPL! Keeping fingers crossed, Rahane does have a big future. This stint with RR will take him a long way!
DeleteWell to tell you about Ajinkya Rahane. He has scored runs at average of more then 63 in first-class matches. He has more then 4500 runs in FC. Even Virat Kohli dosnt have this much. Virat have more then 2500 in FC.
ReplyDeleteTo tell you he is next Rahul Dravid for Indian team.(not comparing him to RD's class his technique) he has invented fast run scoring technique in classy RD style. And his classy style gives him alot benefit.
And yes RR has applied well under RD. They are good side they are just missing a frontline fast bowler.
Rahane's progress would be keenly watched all over the cricketing circuit.
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