Gavaskar says Rahane deserved more credit as India captain

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Sunil Gavaskar has praised Ajinkya Rahane’s leadership of India and said the former captain did not receive enough credit for his role in the 2020-21 Border-Gavaskar Trophy victory in Australia.

Gavaskar compared Rahane’s recognition as captain with that of Rahul Dravid, arguing that both led India to significant victories without receiving the appreciation their leadership merited. Rahane announced his retirement from all forms of cricket the previous week, according to the Times of India report.

Rahane’s role in India’s Australia comeback

Rahane took charge after India were bowled out for 36 in Adelaide, Virat Kohli returned home for the birth of his first child, and injuries removed several first-choice players as the series progressed.

Rahane responded to the Adelaide defeat with a century in Melbourne and helped India recover to win the series 2-1. India later secured the deciding Test at The Gabba despite several senior players being unavailable through injury.

Gavaskar credited Rahane and then head coach Ravi Shastri with lifting the squad after the opening defeat. Gavaskar wrote that Rahane took over a team in serious difficulty and guided India through the setbacks to the series victory.

Gavaskar compares Rahane with Dravid

Gavaskar said Rahane’s Test captaincy record of four wins from six matches without a defeat deserved greater recognition, and he placed Rahane alongside Dravid as an India captain whose results were often overlooked.

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“Like Rahul Dravid, who also had some terrific wins under his captaincy but never got the credit he deserved, so also Rahane’s leadership hardly got the applause that it merited,” Gavaskar wrote in his Mid-Day column.

Gavaskar also criticised the way credit and blame are distributed in Indian cricket. He said individual batters and bowlers tend to receive praise after victories, while captains and coaches carry much of the criticism after defeats.

Tribute to Rahane’s character

Gavaskar concluded that Rahane leaves cricket with the respect of teammates, opponents and followers for the selfless way he played the game.

Gavaskar described Rahane as one of the rare cricketers who could finish a career without making enemies within the game. The former India opener said Rahane could take his place in that group with his characteristic humility.