Exploring the determined universe of KL Rahul and Ajinkya Rahane 

The nervous energy had not yet evaporated; the horror debut not yet forgotten. As scrutiny prevailed over Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s departure from the Test circuit, a youngster remained sunk in the lonely unkempt chaos of the dressing room. The rays were shining bright and fast on the former skipper and the young one who would take over the reins, whilst the 22-year old was still finding ways to stray away from the shadows.

Brooding. Melancholic. Downcast.

The debut at the historical Melbourne Cricket Ground had defied all expectations. With a fluttering stomach, he had walked out on the Boxing Day Test match, equipped with the same set of hyperkinetic energy that every debutant carries with him. Scared. Excited. Frightened.

As he tried to loft a Nathan Lyon delivery to leg side, he knew better. When Peter Siddle dropped him, he knew it was time to rearrange the body alignments and adorn a calmer robe. The next delivery, as he attempted a slog-sweep, he had his heart in his mouth. He knew it had been terribly mistimed. But would he be as lucky as the previous delivery? Would luck favour him? Would he get the chance to script a memorable start? Nope, out it was!

Maybe a setback was what was needed. The new captain Virat Kohli allowed him a second opportunity to grasp onto in Sydney and this time there was no faltering. Out emerged a calmer persona; one who would not allow his handle to poke at every delivery being bowled out there. The pace-threatening bouncers by Mitchell Starc were left deftly and the short of a length balls were handled with ease. He waited for the ones that were pitched up and through his applaud-worthy knock of 110, he displayed awe-inspiring fundamentals, one that is rare to find amongst the breed of T20-groomed cricketers.

Not all balls are attacked. The timings are in place. Playing close to the body, he is able to plan out his shots before they are sent over to the boundary. The strong square cut and pull shot allows him to play with the horizontal bat on bouncier pitches overseas. Using the pace on offer, he was able to bludgeon the West Indies on their home soil, but not before showing one and all his mettle, way back in tough conditions Down Under in 2015.

Today, KL Rahul’s average of 44.62 in 33 innings is overlooked. His record of seven consecutive fifties bears no importance. In South Africa, which is one of the toughest and most challenging places to play Tests, the Karnataka player is discarded; his technique disregarded.

***

In a vastly overcast environment, the opposition was breathing down fire. Not only through the canon-like deliveries being bowled down by the army of seam and swing bowlers but also through the glares and the stares that were being punctured down upon them. Through the barrage of bouncers and ugly words; through the gloomy conditions and verbal assaults, he emerged a silent hero- showcasing his grit and his determination.

The weeks and months before had all brought with it a consistent spot for him- a spot on the side-lines; where he would warm the benches and run back and forth carrying energising drinks for the batsmen out in the middle. Yes, he was impatient to have a crack but patience was all that was shown.

It seemed unfair when that opportunity arrived in the toughest of conditions, against the toughest of bowlers. The mere mention of Dale Steyn, Vernon Philander and Morne Morkel sent down shivers down the batsmen’s spines. For a youngster, facing them in their own den was a thought was almost suicidal- yes, cricket is all about challenges, but this was one that they all would have loved to avoid.

Through resolute versatility and mental strength; through defence and concentration, he was able to penetrate into the host’s plans. His cut for a six that escalated his score from 90 to 96, displayed the firm will to succeed in all kinds of situation. More than his technique, it was his willingness to strike hard for his team and take the deadly blows by Steyn without an inch of grimace that stood out when India visited the domains of South Africa in 2013.

Today, Ajinkya Rahane, with an average of 57 in Australia, 121.5 in West Indies, 54 in New Zealand and 69.66 in South Africa is left out from the final eleven in the land which heralded his beginning. He is forced to sit grim-faced as the sights on offer from the pavilion- the venomous bowling and spongy bounce leading to the undoing of his team-mates, bring back the tales of folklore.

He sits and ponders and races his mind back to five years ago. He can do no more.

***

It had come down to form over reputation. Captain Kohli and his management had been stubborn in their picks in the first Test match of the New Year in Newlands. The silent assassin, Jasprit Bumrah, had been preferred over the wily Ishant Sharma. The iffy Shikhar Dhawan over Rahul and the consistent-in-ODIs-but-inconsistent-in-Tests Rohit Sharma over Rahane. Yes, they had been coming into this series with runs against their name, but when even the rival skipper Faf du Plessis questions the spot occupied by Rohit, the befuddlement of the selections only skyrockets further.

When Dhawan misjudged a back of a length delivery by Steyn for a pull that did not exist in the first innings, one could visualise the phantom of Rahul silently defending the same. When Rohit played Philander’s good length delivery away from the body to eventually drag it to middle stump, the cricket fan cringed for the presence of Rahane. The hero sans a cape. The hero who would allow the palpitations to escape and the normal inflow of blood to return to the numb fanatics.

Inside the universe of Rahane and Rahul, the situation seems tense. Questions float around and the over-powering constellation of injustice does emerge. The two batsmen preferred over them had planted up their runs in the familiar by-lanes of the home conditions, and it is but natural to feel the pulse of remorse.

But caught up in the black hole of their incompetent skills, there lies a burning desire. A desire that will not cease even if they are given a place in the next Test match. A desire that will keep burning brighter, and a desire that will take them through the days when they are cast aside again - even when they deeply deserved not to be.