Page 3 - Ajinkya Rahane

India set 240-run target to win second Test against South Africa

India set South Africa a tricky 240-run target to win the second Test after being bowled out for 266 in their second innings on the third day of the match here on Wednesday. Resuming at 85 for two, India called the shots with Cheteshwar Pujara (53) and Ajinkya Rahane (58) striking half-centuries. Once they were dismissed by Kagiso Rabada, the Indian innings seemed to have lost momentum with Rishabh Pant falling without opening his account. However, Hanuma Vihari (40 not out) and Shardul Thakur (28) defied the Proteas attack to swell India's overall lead. Pacers Rabada (3/73), Lungi Ngidi (3/43) and Marco Jansen (3/67) shared nine wickets between them. If India manage to defend the total, they will seal their maiden Test series triumph in South Africa. Brief Scores: India: 202 and 266 in 60.1 overs (A Rahane 58, C Pujara 53; K Rabada 3/73, M Jansen 3/67, L Ngidi 3/43). South Africa 1st innings: 202.

2nd Test:Pujara, Rahane score fifties as India reach 188 for 6 at lunch

Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane added a lifeline to their respective careers with crucial half-centuries but South Africa came back strongly in the second Test by reducing India to 188 for six

Rahane, Pujara flop show continues as Indian middle-order disappoints again

a lot of blame should go to India's batters as some like Pujara didn't show intent to score while others like Rahane seemed completely short of confidence

SA vs India: Clash of two potent bowling attacks, eyes on Rahane, Pujara

The wait is over as the first Test of the three-match series between India and South Africa gets underway on Sunday at the SuperSport Park, Centurion

Ind vs SA: Rahul admits it will be 'tough call' between Rahane and Iyer

Rahul fully backed the five-bowler strategy which has given India success in recent overseas tours

Rahane replaced by Rohit as Kohli's Test deputy for South Africa tour

India's tour of South Africa will be all about Rohit Sharma's ascendancy as the national white-ball skipper along with the additional responsibility of being the vice-captain of the Test team

I can't judge Rahane's form, only he knows what he is going through: Kohli

The Indian captain, after the team's thumping 1-0 series win over New Zealand, answered some tricky questions

Ind vs NZ: Rahane, Ishant get honourable 'injury' exit route for 2nd Test

Before the opening day of the second Test, the BCCI officially announced that Rahane, Ishant and, more importantly, Ravindra Jadeja are out of the match due to various injuries

Not worried about Ajinkya's form but would like him to score more: Dravid

Rahane is, more than anyone else, keen on getting big runs under his belt and it's a matter of just one game before the India vice-captain regains his form, head coach Rahul Dravid said on Monday.

Ind vs NZ: Don't think we could have done anything different, says Rahane

India failed to bowl out New Zealand on a deteriorating track on day five of the first Test but Rahane praised his players saying they tried their best and couldn't have done anything different.

Day 4: Another flop show by Rahane, Pujara as India in trouble at lunch

Stand-in captain Ajinkya Rahane and his temporary deputy Cheteshwar Pujara's saga of failures continued as India were put on the mat by New Zealand bowlers, primarily Tim Southee

Ind vs NZ: Iyer to make Test debut, confirms stand-in skipper Rahane

Rahane said India would miss all the big names, but that the youngsters stepping in were good enough to compete at the Test level

Not concerned about my form, contribution doesn't mean century: Rahane

Ajinkya Rahane was not amused with questions related to his poor form, insisting that concerns about his lean patch are unfounded and contribution doesn't mean a Test hundred in every game

All eyes on Rahane as 'second string' India take on gutsy New Zealand

A captain battling existential crisis, a pacer about to be phased out and a white-ball maverick trying to earn his red-ball stripes makes for a heady combination as India faces New Zealand in 1st Test

All eyes on Rahane as 'second string' India take on gutsy New Zealand

Ajinkya Rahane's second-string India aim to size up a gritty New Zealand in first Test starting Thursday.

Rahane to lead India in 1st Test against NZ; Rohit, Pant, Bumrah rested

Vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane will lead India in the first Test against New Zealand in Kanpur, starting November 25, before regular skipper Kohli returns to take charge from the second Test in Mumbai

Am sure Indian T20 team has lots of respect for Pakistan: Rahane

India cricketer Ajinkya Rahane has said that Virat Kohli's side should not take Babar Azam's team lightly, adding that "past records don't matter" in the shortest format

Mushtaq Ali T20: Rahane to lead Mumbai; Shaw to be his deputy

India's Test vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane will lead a strong 20-member Mumbai squad that will take part in the upcoming Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 tournament with the flamboyant Prithvi Shaw being his deputy. The Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) announced the squad, picked by the committee headed by former India pacer Salil Ankola, on its website on Monday. On the day, India's former hockey captain Olympian Viren Rasquinha had a session with the Mumbai team where he spoke about the success stories of India's celebrated Olympians. Rasquinha is the CEO of Olympic Gold Quest (OGQ) and has been associated with the journey of lot of premier athletes in India. "Was great chatting with the Mumbai Ranji team as they embark on a new season. Thanks to my friends Nilesh Kulkarni, Amol Muzumdar, Mumbai Cricket Association for inviting me over to speak to the team & for presenting me with an autographed team jersey," Rasquinha tweeted. On his part, Mumbai head coach Amol Muzumdar thanked Rasquinha ..

Ind vs Eng: ECB, BCCI to try 'finding a window to reschedule' 5th Test

The BCCI along with the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) had earlier jointly decided to call off the fifth Test scheduled at Old Trafford in Manchester.

We haven't arrived at point when Rahane's form becomes a concern: Rathour

India batting coach Vikram Rathour has backed struggling Ajinkya Rahane to come good in the next match, saying time has not come yet to worry about his form and he is just going through a tough phase.