AUS v IND Tests | Ajinkya Rahane on the cusp of equalizing MS Dhoni’s record as captain

Ajinkya Rahane led from the front in the second Test at the MCG as he scored a century in the first innings and remained unbeaten on 27 in the second to power India to an 8-wicket victory over Australia. The win helped the visitors to recover from their horror show in Adelaide and thus leveled the series 1-1 as well.

Rahane stood out not only as a player but also as a captain in the absence of regular skipper Virat Kohli, who returned to India after the first Test to attend the birth of his first child. Everyone praised Rahane’s cataincy and he will now have the chance of equalizing MS Dhoni’s record as captain as India prepare to take on Australia in the third Test at the SCG.

Dhoni had won his first four Tests as captain after taking over from Anil Kumble in 2008. Rahane, who has already won his first three Tests as captain, will have the chance to register his fourth win now.

India has won Test matches vs Australia in 2017, vs Afghanistan in 2018 and vs Australia in 2020 under Rahane’s leadership. The stand-in-skipper will also have a shot at completing 1000 Test runs on Australian soil. Currently, he has 797 runs to his name. If he manages to score 203 runs at the SCG, he will become only the fifth Indian to do so.

Rahane also has 2891 overseas runs to his name in Tests now, which means another 109 runs in the SCG Test could get him to 3000 Test runs. Only nine Indians have amassed 3000 or more overseas runs in Test cricket till date. Indian legend Sachin Tendulkar currently leads the list with 8705 runs to his name in 106 matches.

India will also have the chance of ending their 42-year drought at the SCG. They have won only one out of the 12 Tests they have played at this venue, while losing six. Their only win at this venue came in 1978 under the leadership of Bishan Singh Bedi.