Why dropping Ajinkya Rahane for the T20 series makes sense

Ajinkya Rahane is undoubtedly one of India’s finest batsmen. The Indian Test team vice-captain is one of my favourite players and it was disappointing to hear the news that he was dropped from the squad to face the Australians in the upcoming T20 series. It seemed a bit odd to drop the player who scored four consecutive fifties in the recently concluded ODI series, at an average of 49.

However, going by the demands of the shortest version of the gentleman’s game, the decision makes sense. Here are five reasons why I think dropping him was the right decision:

#1 Free-flowing openers

Had he been selected, Rahane would most likely open the innings. Currently, the best openers in the T20 format are Rohit Sharma (India), Evin Lewis (West Indies) and Alex Hales (England). They possess the ability to clear the field with ease and are always willing to take chances to get quick-fire runs.

Rahane, on the other hand, is more of a classical batsman. He struggles to get going when the pitch lacks pace and he has to make up for it by consistently hitting the ball out of the 30-yard circle. Whilst there will always be a place for the calm and composed batsman in T20s, as Hashim Amla has shown over the years, Rahane finds himself pipped for the opening slot by Shikhar Dhawan who has a better strike rate (105.35) than Rahane's (96.95) in limited overs cricket (ODIs + T20Is + IPL).

#2 Six hitting prowess

Hitting sixes at will is not Ajinkya Rahane's forte

Ajinkya Rahane made his T20I debut in 2011. There is a reason why he played just 20 T20Is in the next six years. He has faced 2,866 balls in recognised T20 cricket (IPL + IT20) and has hit just 66 sixes. That’s an average of 2.3 sixes per 100 balls. With all due respect, that’s just not good enough for a player who plays at the top of the order. The average of the other Indian players are:

Virat Kohli – 4.09

Rohit Sharma – 5.22

Shikhar Dhawan – 2.51

Mahendra Singh Dhoni – 5.35

Hardik Pandya – 9.17

Kedar Jadhav – 4.77

Manish Pandey – 3.56

If 'Jinx' were to enhance his six hitting abilities, he might well become an important cog in the strong Indian batting line up. For now, India have better players at their disposal.

#3 Slow off the blocks

Rahane is not known to start briskly

Whilst a batsman has enough time to get settled in Tests and ODIs, T20s are a different ball game altogether. The T20 format demands batsmen to go for big shots right from the word 'go', and it gives them no time to settle down or get their eye in.

Rahane has always been a player who has needed time to settle down at the crease. Going after the bowling right from the first delivery isn't his cup of tea. Rather, he is someone who likes to see off a few deliveries and accelerate in the latter half of the innings.

This has brought him great success in the longer forms of the game but this is also something that makes his inclusion in the T20 squad unfeasible.

#4 Tough competition

With the strength India possess, getting in the squad is tough

Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan are India's first choice openers. However, they can also opt for some interesting combinations at the top considering the options they have at their disposal. Backup opener KL Rahul can come in, if necessary. Captain Virat can open the innings if India need to play another bowler. So the competition for the opening slot is extremely tough.

India also enjoy the comfort of a settled middle order. MSD, Hardik Pandya, Kedar Jadhav and Manish Pandey can be used as floaters as per the need of the situation. It'll take a lot for anyone to dislodge them. At the moment, Rahane doesn't seem to have what it takes to make it in to the XI.

#5 Strike rotation

Lack of singles has been a problem for Ajinkya Rahane

Let’s take a look at two of his innings.

One: 5th ODI against Australia. He started the innings at a strike rate of more than a run-a-ball, but by the time he got out, his strike rate had fallen to 82.43.

Two: 188 against New Zealand in Indore. He hit more boundaries (18 fours, 4 sixes, 96 runs) than Virat Kohli (20 fours, 80 runs) who scored 211 but Rahane's strike rate (49.34) was lower than the skipper's (57.65).

The prime reason for this is his inability to pick up singles at will. Like most by-the-book players, he just isn’t able to tap the ball and run. Whilst he has the temperament and the technique to cope with this in the longest format of the game, this method builds pressure in the limited overs format and brings about a false big shot. There is always an opportunity to nurture your skills in any field, and if Rahane can develop the art of picking up singles, he’ll be an even more effective batsman than he is today.

Rahane is a fighter. Dropped after playing just one Test, he got his name on the Lord's board within the next 12 months. He is the best Test batsman in the country. He has shown he has the technique and temperament to tackle any bowling attack on any kind of pitche in any environment.

He’s the only Indian batsman in the current setup to have accumulated runs all over the world and I have no doubt that he’ll make a comeback to the Indian T20 side as a better batsman. But for now, he has to make way for players better suited to the format.