Virender Sehwag gone, room at the top for Ajinkya Rahane

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Sandeep Dwivedi: Mar 08 2013, 02:09 IST

In the hustle and bustle of India's top order, a blow to someone can result in a push to another. The decision to drop Virender Sehwag for the third and fourth Tests has come with an unusual collateral. It has modified Ajinkya Rahane's profile. It's a change that has been a constant in the Mumbai's batsman's young career. But this latest switch has the potential to finally provide stability to Rahane's ever-evolving role in the team.

After opening the innings in his debut first class season, Rahane dropped down to No.3. He still plays one-drop for Mumbai. But when he turns out for Indian Oil, a strong unit that also includes Wasim Jaffer and Cheteshwar Pujara, the 25-year-old pads up first. An imposing run pile on the domestic circuit got him India's blue jersey for the England tour in 2011.

He was an instant hit as an opener both in T20 and ODI games. He looked the copybook opener, but not the kind who has a dead bat. Against the likes of James Anderson, Tim Bresnan and Stuart Broad, Rahane would stand up and deliver, never getting his elbow position wrong or playing an ugly shot. It was only against Steve Finn — when England came to India for the return tour a few months ago — that Rahane couldn't be the batsman whose arrival was dreaded on the domestic circuit.

He has been a regular part of India's Test squad in that time, but hasn't yet made his debut, and

... contd.

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