West Indies vs India 2019: Four Indian players who must perform in the Test series

#2 Ajinkya Rahane

Ajinkya Rahane.

Ajinkya Rahane is a middle-order batsman and also the vice-captain of the Indian test team. He is a technically correct batsman who can bat for very long periods . He has scored runs all over the world but in recent times his form hasn't been that great.

Rahane last scored a test century in August 2017 in Sri Lanka where he played a match-winning inning of 132. But it's been two years now since that heroics. A batsman of his caliber is expected to make big runs more often.

The Indian top-order, especially the opening partnership, has struggled in recent times. So it all comes down to the trio of Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli and Rahane to hold the team together. Pujara and Kohli have been brilliant in all conditions but Rahane has struggled to play the really big innings.

Hanuma Vihari is waiting in the wings.

Rahane has been scoring runs in bits and pieces and making a useful contribution at times but what India needs from their No.5 is to play some long innings. He is scoring the 70s and 80s but couldn't get past that in recent time. With Rohit Sharma and Hanuma Vihari waiting in the dugout India's vice-captain must play a match-winning innings now.

The men that matter have been patient with Rahane, but for how long, one wonders.