Aus vs Ind 2021: Ajinkya Rahane on the cusp of levelling MS Dhoni’s record

India’s stand-in skipper Ajinkya Rahane did a fine job in the second Test match against Australia at the MCG. The visitors had their backs against the wall after they were bundled out for a paltry score of 36 runs in the second innings of the Adelaide Test match. However, Rahane was able to turn the tables as the leader of the team as he marshalled his troops from the front.

Rahane led in a calm manner and got the best out of his players. The right-hander also scored a fine knock of 112 runs in the first innings at the MCG and helped his team take a lead of 131 runs. India went on to win the second Test match by eight wickets and Rahane received a lot of praise from the cricket boffins around the globe.

Meanwhile, Rahane has thus far led India in three Test matches and the team has won all of them (two against Australia and one against Afghanistan). If the team manages to win the third Test match at the Sydney Cricket Ground, then Rahane will match former skipper MS Dhoni’s record.

Dhoni had led the team to four consecutive Test wins after he had taken over the captaincy baton from Anil Kumble. On the other hand, Ajinkya Rahane can also become the fifth Indian batsman to complete 1000 runs on the Australian soil. Rahane has thus far scored 797 runs in 10 Test matches Down Under.

Sachin Tendulkar (1809 runs in 20 matches, six centuries), Virat Kohli (1352 runs in 13 matches, six hundreds), VVS Laxman (1236 runs in 15 matches, four hundreds), Rahul Dravid (1143 runs in 15 matches, one hundred) are the other four Indian batsmen to have scored more than 1000 runs in the Australian conditions.

Furthermore, Rahane is all set to become the 10th Indian batsmen to have scored more than 3000 runs in overseas Test matches as he has amassed 2891 runs in 40 away Test matches. The third Test match will take place at the Sydney Cricket Ground from January 7.