New Delhi: Former captain Sunil Gavaskar today described Ajinkya Rahane, who scored a century in each innings of the fourth Test against South Africa here, as the most complete Indian batsman in the current team as he has “done well in all conditions”.
“Rahane is currently the most complete Test batsman in the country. He is brilliant both in attacking and defending. He has done well everywhere, in all the conditions whereas Virat Kohli struggled in England,” Gavaskar told NDTV.
Rahane today achieved the rare distinction of scoring a century in each Test innings on the fourth day of the final Test. He scored a 127 in India’s first innings before hitting 100 in the second innings today.
He has scored a century each in Australia, New Zealand, England and Sri Lanka before hitting two tons against South Africa here.
Gavaskar felt sorry for captain Kohli for missing out on a hundred as he was out for 88 today, adding just five runs to his overnight 83.
“I feel sorry for Virat that he could not score a century at his home ground which would have been memorable. He should have got a hundred yesterday. It is not easy for anybody to start again after a break and in his case it was an overnight break,” said the former India captain.
South Africa crawled to 72 runs for two from 72 overs they faced today in their second innings but Gavaskar said he was not surprised with the ultra-defensive approach of the Proteas.
“They South Africans) were doing what their team needed. It might not be attractive for the spectators who would want a lot of fours and sixes but this (slow batting) is what the South African team needed.
“It’s all the more admirable for A B de Villiers who is such an explosive batsman to curb his aggression. But he was doing what his team needed,” Gavaskar said.
With India unlikely to lose the final Test from the strong position they are currently in, Gavaskar said beating South Africa in the series with a 2-0 or 3-0 margin was a terrific achievement for the team.
“It will be a huge achievement whatever the margin, whether 2-0 or 3-0. South Africa are the number one Test team and they have not lost an overseas series for nine years. It is a terrific achievement for India,” Gavaskar said, adding that it will not be difficult for India to wrap up the Kotla Test tomorrow.