Ajinkya Rahane is a 35-year old right-hander batsman playing for India since 2011. He has represented India in all the three formats of the game, and has won India many matches. He has played 83 tests overall and scored 5066 runs, which comprises a dozen centuries and 26 half-centuries. In this article, we will have a look at the top 10 test innings by Rahane.
1. 103 Vs England
After having drawn the first test match against England, the Indian team took to the field with a new zeal at Lord’s. The home team won the toss and sent the visitors to bat first. In this innings, Rahane scored a superb knock of 103 runs. India were 3 wickets down for just 86 runs when Rahane walked out to bat. He hit 15 boundaries and an over-boundary as well to steady the Indian innings. Finally, India won the match by a comprehensive margin of 95 runs thanks to this innings from Rahane and a fiery 7-wicket spell from pacer Ishant Sharma in the second innings. This victory was a special one as it was after 28 long years that India won a test match at the Mecca of Cricket.
2. 108* Vs West Indies
In the second test of the India tour of the West Indies played at the Sabina Park in 2016, the home team won the toss and elected to bat first. They put just 196 runs on the board in the first innings. As India came out to bat, it was all about two centurions, KL Rahul and Ajinkya Rahane. As the third wicket of India fell with 277 runs on the board, the former departed and the latter walked out to bat. He scored 108 runs off 237 balls, which comprised 13 boundaries and 3 over-boundaries. Rahane remained unbeaten till the end as India declared their innings with a huge score of 533 runs for the loss of 9 wickets. The match however ended in a draw.
3. 112 Vs Australia
Of all the centuries he has scored, this one is perhaps the most important of the lot. After suffering a heavy defeat down under in the first test, an inexperienced Indian side went to Melbourne to play the second test. Many of the key Indian players were injured and even the regular captain, Virat Kohli was unavailable due to personal reasons. It was at this time that Rahane was given the captaincy for the rest of the series. In the second test, Rahane played a captain’s knock under tremendous pressure when he came out to bat at 61/2, after Australia posted a total of 195 in the first innings. Captain Rahane went on to score a steady 223-ball 112 which helped his team take a first-innings lead and also win the match against all odds. His century happened to be the first century by a batsman in this Border-Gavaskar Trophy. His splendid effort won him the Man of the Match award as well.
4. 115 Vs South Africa
In the third test against South Africa played at Ranchi in 2019, India in its first innings posted a mammoth 497 runs on the board, after winning the toss. Though Rohit Sharma stole the limelight with his double century, Ajinkya Rahane also scored a century in this match, his 11th in his test career. He scored 115 off 192 balls, hitting 17 boundaries and a six as well in his innings. The home team won the match quite comfortably, beating the visitors by an innings and 202 runs.
5. 118 Vs New Zealand
In the second test match against the Kiwis at the Basin Reserve, Wellington, Rahane scored his maiden test century. Batting first, the home side posted 192 runs on the board. Coming out to bat, India was in a state of bother at one point of time, having lost 5 wickets for just 165 runs. The next batsman to come out to bat was Ajinkya Rahane. He, along with skipper MS Dhoni prevented the batting collapse as they scored 118 runs and 68 runs respectively, helping India to post 438 runs in the first innings. Rahane’s innings comprised 17 boundaries and one over-boundary. The match however ended in a draw.
6. 126 Vs Sri Lanka
After unexpectedly losing the first test match against Srilanka, India visited Colombo for the second test in the 2015 3-match test series. Though Rahane failed to impress in the first innings, he went on to score his 4th test century in the second innings. He came out to bat at 3/1 and hit 10 boundaries to reach this milestone. His partnership with Murali Vijay helped India post 325 in the second innings and comfortably win the game by 278 runs. This is Rahane’s 5th-highest score in test cricket.
7. 127 Vs South Africa
In 2015, the Proteas visited India for a 4-match test series. India were already 2-0 up after the first three tests, and the 2 teams reached the Indian capital for the series finale. Ajinkya Rahane was in sublime form in this match, scoring a couple of centuries in the two innings. In the first innings, India was already 3 down for a score of just 66 when Jinx came out to bat. He batted superbly and scored 127 runs off 215 balls. His innings included 11 fours and 4 sixes. This glamourous innings, along with another century in the second innings saw the home team emerge victorious. He also won the Man of the Match for these knocks.
8. 132 Vs Sri Lanka
India toured Srilanka for a 3-match test series in 2017. Having already wrapped up the series in the first two games, India went to Colombo for the final match of the series. In the first innings, Rahane scored his 9th test century, which also happens to be his third best test knock. His knock, along with Pujara’s century and Jadeja’s all-round performance saw the visitors whitewash the Lankans on their home soil.
9. 147 Vs Australia
In late 2014, India visited Australia for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. The visitors lost the first two test matches, and had all to play for in the third test scheduled at Melbourne. In reply to Australia’s first innings score of 530, India came out to bat. Top-notch innings from Kohli and Rahane ensured India post a commendable total of 465. Rahane scored a 171-ball 147, the third century of his test career, hitting 21 boundaries in the process. Virat and Rahane again performed well in the second innings, thus drawing the test match.
10. 188 Vs New Zealand
At the top of this list remains the innings of Rahane’s 8th test century. The Kiwis were touring India for a 3-match test series. The home side were already 2-0 up in the series when the spotlight shifted to Indore for the series finale. Winning the toss, Kohli elected to bat first. Though India lost three early wickets, the Indian skipper and Rahane took charge of the innings. The former went on to score a double-century while Rahane scored his test best score of 188 runs, which included 18 fours and 4 sixes. India went on to win this match as well, thanks to these two brilliant innings and a top-class bowling from Ravi Ashwin, hence whitewashing the visitors.
