Former Indian Test opener Wasim Jaffer reckons Ajinkya Rahane had the ability to finish with more than 20 Test centuries after the latter recently announced his retirement from all forms of the game.
Rahane played 85 Tests, 90 ODIs and 20 T20Is for India while also featured in 212 IPL games for six teams. Rahane amassed 5077 Test runs at an average of 38.46, including 12 centuries, out of which eight came in overseas conditions.
He also led India to a memorable Border-Gavaskar series win against Australia in 2020-21 in the absence of Virat Kohli after the visitors lost the opening Test at Adelaide, following their 36-run second innings collapse.
Rahane was known for his solid technique in the middle order and played some vital knocks for the team.
Wasim Jaffer said on his YouTube Channel, “But knowing Ajinkya as well as I do, having played so much cricket with him, I always felt he could have achieved even more. In the number of Test matches he played, he could have easily scored 6,500 or even 7,000 runs. In my opinion, he also had the ability to finish with more than 20 Test centuries.”
Jaffer praised Rahane for his dedication and hard work, which he put in throughout his impressive career.
“I think he was a tremendous servant of Indian cricket, someone who was extremely dedicated and hardworking, very similar to what Rahul Dravid was in his time. Ajinkya Rahane played some magnificent innings. To go on and play 85 Test matches and score more than 5,000 runs is a remarkable achievement.”
Jaffer hailed Rahane for his stunning centuries in England and Australia and also praised him for twin centuries against South Africa at home.
“He played some truly remarkable innings. His century at Lord’s, his hundred at Melbourne after India had been bowled out for 36, when he led from the front, and the twin centuries against South Africa in Delhi are among the knocks that really stand out. I also remember the century he scored alongside Virat Kohli in Melbourne during the 2014 Test series. Those were some exceptional innings.”
The former domestic giant reckons Rahane’s average of 38 doesn’t do justice to all the skills he had, and he could have easily averaged more than 45.
“Even so, I always felt that a Test average of 38 didn’t truly reflect the kind of cricketer he was. In my opinion, he was someone who could have averaged 45 or even 50. He was a wonderful ambassador of the game and a fantastic role model for young cricketers. He went about his business quietly, without seeking attention, but always got the job done. He was one of the key soldiers of Virat Kohli’s Indian Test team, and now one of those soldiers has retired.”
Rahane led India in six Test matches, winning four of them and drawing two.
