Tweeple rejoice as Ajinkya Rahane finally makes it to playing XI replacing Rohit Sharma in 3rd Test

The expectations will be high from Ajinkya Rahane keeping in mind his overseas record

He is back! Ajinkya Rahane finally gets included in the playing XI of India after weeks of criticism. Skipper Virat Kohli has chosen Rahane instead of Rohit Sharma on the vicious green top of New Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg. Since the batting collapse in the first Test, there have been talks that Rahane should have been picked in the side ahead of Rohit seeing his record on overseas pitches.

Former cricketers and netizens had expressed their disappointment regarding the team selection. Indian batting lineup has struggled in both the Tests. Only Kohli managed to break the shackles and score a century in the second Test but even that could not turn things around for the team.

South African fast bowlers have been able to get the better of Indian batsmen whether it is with the new ball or reverse swing with the old one.

Kohli surprised everyone with another decision in the third Test. He went all out with the pace attack by selecting five fast bowlers in the team. He replaced Ravichandran Ashwin and brought back Bhuvneshwar Kumar into the side. To top it all, he opted to bat first on a green top after winning the toss.

Here’s how Twitterati reacted to Rahane’s inclusion:

Take a look at the playing XI:

Murali Vijay, Lokesh Rahul, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli (c), Ajinkya Rahane, Parthiv Patel (wk), Hardik Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mohammed Shami, Ishant Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah

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