Top 5 innings played by Ajinkya Rahane outside the Indian subcontinent

If the net-session of the Indian cricket team before the third Test match is anything to go by, Ajinkya Rahane is all set to make a comeback. His exclusion from the playing XI for the first two Tests did receive a lot of flak from all corners.

Although Rahane was not amongst the runs in the domestic season, there is little doubt over his prowess in overseas conditions on spicy pitches.

Hence, the green track in Wanderers might have convinced the Indian management to rope him into the middle order.

Here in this slider, we take a look a five of Ajinkya Rahane's best performances outside the Indian subcontinent.

#5 96 versus South Africa, Durban

The two-match Test series was beautifully poised when the teams got to Durban.

India won the toss and elected to bat first. The openers gave a good solid start to the visitors, but no batsman could kick on and get a big score owing to which India managed just 334 in their first innings.

South Africa took advantage of this lapse and plundered 500 in their first innings, thus earning a lead of 165.

India's batting collapsed in the first session of the final day and were left tottering at 91 for four after the first hour. It was here when Ajinkya Rahane decided to stamp his authority and play all his strokes. He kept losing partners at the other hand but continued motoring along.

In the quest for quick runs, he played one cross-batted slog against Vernon Philander and lost his wicket for 96 runs.

India went on to lose the match by 10 wickets and thus conceded the series 1-0.

#4 118 vs New Zealand, Wellington

On a spicy pitch at the Basin Reserve in Wellington, Indian captain MS Dhoni won the toss and elected to field first.

His bowlers vindicated his decision as they reduced the hosts to 86 for six and then eventually dismissed them for 192.

In reply, India batted beautifully and on the back of superlative innings from Shikhar Dhawan and Ajinkya Rahane, posted 438.

It was here when Rahane shot to prominence with a brilliant innings of 118 off 158 balls and took the match away from the hosts.

New Zealand did very well to salvage a draw after being reduced to 94 for five on the back of a triple century by Brendon McCullum and a century by BJ Watling.

#3 108* vs West Indies, Kingston

Hosts West Indies won the toss and elected to bat first on a surface which looked brilliant for batting. However, the Indian bowlers were brilliant and bowled out the hosts for a paltry 196 in their first innings.

In reply, India were extremely strong and on the back of centuries from KL Rahul and Ajinkya Rahane, they posted 500 in their first innings.

Rahane kept the scoreboard moving even when India stuttered in the middle phase and notched up 108 in 237 balls as India declared their innings at 500.

The match ended in a draw owing to a resilient century by Roston Chase in West Indies' second innings.

#2 147 versus Australia, Melbourne

Perhaps the best innings played by an Indian in Australia was by Ajinkya Rahane when he took the attack to the Australian bowling, and the no-fear cricket which every team endorses was out in its full grandeur.

Rahane along with Kohli put together a remarkable stand of 262 for the fifth wicket and completely annihilated the Australian bowling attack.

The diminutive player faced 171 balls and smoked 21 boundaries in his innings of 147.

#1 103 vs England, Lord's

It was a green track in London. England captain Alastair Cook won the toss and invited India to take the first guard.

James Anderson, Stuart Broad, and Liam Plunkett reduced India to 128 for six and this is where Ajinkya Rahane decided to take the bull by the horns.

He pulled out all his strokes and started smoking the fast bowlers to all parts of the field. This helped him score what is arguably the best backs-to-the-wall knock in England.

Rahane pushed India's total to 295 runs which was enough to force a win by 95 runs.