Ajinkya Rahane not ideal long-term No 3 batsman: Sanjay Manjrekar

Ajinkya Rahane. Inset: Sanjay Manjrekar

Former India batsman Sanjay Manjrekar believes that in-form batsman Ajinkya Rahane should bat at No 4 or 5 in Tests as the No 3 spot is not an ideal place for him on a long term basis.

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Sanjay Manjrekar

The right-handed batsman played an impressive knock of 126 runs in the just concluded second Test against Sri Lanka. India beat hosts Sri Lanka by 278 runs in the second Test to draw level the three match series 1-1. The final Test begins tomorrow.

"Rahane might be similar to Rahul (Dravid) in approach, temperamentally and nature wise but their batting style is different. So I think Rahane will not be an ideal No 3 batsman, keeping in mind the long term plans. I would rather bat him at No 4 or 5," Manjrekar was quoted as saying by ESPNcricinfo yesterday.


Ajinkya Rahane. Pic/Solaris Images

India wicket-keeper batsman Wriddhiman Saha was ruled out of the ongoing series due to a hamstring injury. Naman Ojha was called in as a replacement for him.

Batsman KL Rahul kept wickets in the second Test on the final day and Manjrekar said India should go with a specialised keeper in the third Test and not depend on Rahul.

"I don't think India should let KL Rahul keep wickets in the third Test. It is too risky to try in a Test which goes on for five days. Rahul hasn't kept wickets for a long time.

In the second Test he took a good catch and dropped one. So I think India should go in with a regular wicket-keeper," he said.