IPL 2020: ‘Very few rate him as a T20 player’: Virender Sehwag on DC batsman Ajinkya Rahane


IPL 2020: ‘Very few rate him as a T20 player’: Virender Sehwag on DC batsman Ajinkya Rahane

Virender Sehwag and Ajinkya Rahane

Virender Sehwag and Ajinkya Rahane
Virender Sehwag and Ajinkya Rahane

Delhi Capitals batsman Ajinkya Rahane got a chance to play a game for his side against Royal Challengers Bangalore. The veteran player once again proved his worth after scoring a match-winning half-century for the Capitals. Batting at number three, the 32-year old smashed 60 runs off 46 deliveries while chasing a tricky total of 153.

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Former India opener Virender Sehwag highlighted the role of a solid batsman like Rahane. The cricketer-turned commentator also revealed that not many people consider Rahane a great player of the shortest format.

“Very few rate him as a T20 player. They say he can’t hit the fours and sixes but when you have a solid player like him in your team then you can attack from the other end,” Virender Sehwag said during the post-match show on Cricbuzz after the Delhi Capitals beat RCB on Monday.

Also Read | IPL 2020 DC vs RCB: Dhawan, Rahane’s half-centuries secure second-place finish for DC as RCB also qualify with a better net run rate

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“It was a tough call for Ricky Ponting as both Ajinkya Rahane and Prithvi Shaw were not performing. But he backed and played them, and it was a tough decision,” Sehwag stated.

He can come back with a big knock: Sehwag on Rahane

Shikhar Dhawan and Ajinkya Rahane slammed fifties for DC

The 42-year old mentioned that you always need an experienced player like Ajinkya Rahane. He also revealed that DC needed a knock (Rahane’s inning) like that only.

“You play an experienced player because you know that he might not have scored runs for 3-4 games, but he can come back in the next match with a big inning. That’s what Ajinkya Rahane did. He scored 60 off 46 balls and also scored at a strike rate of 130 which is more than his average scoring rate.

“DC needed an innings like that only. The strike rate didn’t matter that much, they needed someone to play a solid inning and bat till the 15-16th over,” added Sehwag.

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“The victory was important (for DC). Whether they won it by two wickets or ten wickets, it wouldn’t have mattered. They needed to win to finish in the top 2,” Sehwag concluded.

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