04 September,2015 08:11 PM IST | | IANS
Cricket icon Rahul Dravid believes batsman Ajinkya Rahane should bat at No.5 in Tests considering his ability to give the tailenders company and keeping in mind the success he has had in the middle order
Former captain Rahul Dravid with Ajinkya Rahane during the launch of former cricketer Akash Chopra's book "The Insider", in Mumbai on Friday. Pic/PTI
India A and Under-19 cricket teams' head coach Rahul Dravid believes batsman Ajinkya Rahane should bat at No.5 in Tests considering his ability to give the tailenders company and keeping in mind the success he has had in the middle order.
"I think he (Rahane) would be a very good No. 4 and No.5 batsman in Test. I am not saying he won't be a good No.3 because he batted there, but the success he had at No.5, his ability to bat with the tail and the range of shorts he has, makes him a very good No.5, also his ability to play the second new ball," Dravid on Friday said during a book launch of former cricketer Aakash Chopra.
"Obviously he (Rahane) is required to bat at whatever position his team needs. But for me No. 5 is the position where he will probably do best in Tests," he added.
The legendary Indian batsman praised the 27-year-old Mumbaikar for his consistent performance overseas.
"He (Rahane) has worked really hard to get in to the Indian team like me. If you look at his overseas record, you will see he has done well and scored century in every overseas tour including 98 in Bangladesh. He will grow up to be a great successful cricketer," the former captain said.
India recently won a Test series in Sri Lankan soil after 22 years and Dravid heaped praise on skipper Virat Kohli, saying the Delhi batsman is someone who constantly looks to improve and wants to be better every time.
"The thing I noticed about Kohli is that he constantly looks to improve and wants to do better with every time. In cricket you are constantly questioned and Kohli has answered those well," he said.
The 42-year-old believes footwork will remain a vital part for a batsman to succeed but said as long as one is scoring runs, footwork doesn't matter. Dravid took the example of Indian batsman Virender Sehwag and West Indies batsman Shivnarine Chanderpaul to explain it.
"Footwork will remain an important part, but as long as one is scoring runs, it won't matter. For example Chanderpaul, Sehwag. You cannot question them. But without footwork one has to be Sehwag to survive and not all can be Sehwag," Dravid, known for his steely resolve and flawless technique during his illustrious career where he scored more than 24,000 runs, said.
The former batsman also pointed out that playing practice games and having good preparations ahead of a Test series is always important.
"It is important to have good preparations ahead of a Test series. Practice gamed are important ahead of a Test. During our time we had lot of time before a Test match to prepare ourselves but now it is not the case. This generation is not getting enough time to get ready for a Test," Dravid concluded.
