‘Drop Rahane for Kohli’: Daniel Vettori feels it would be hard to drop Shreyas Iyer in second Test

Former New Zealand off-spinner Daniel Vettori reckons stand-in-captain Ajinkya Rahane will have to make way for the returning Virat Kohli in the second Test against New Zealand. Rahane continued his poor form and could only manage scores of 35 and 4 in two innings. He averages below 25 in the Test matches played this year. His career average has also dropped below 40 and several critics have questioned his place in the team.

Shreyas Iyer, who is playing his first Test,  grabbed his chance with both hands and scored a magnificent hundred in the first innings. He also scored a crucial 65 when India were in a dire state in the second innings. Vettori feels it would be apt to drop Rahane for Kohli. The former New Zealand off-spinner however said that it would not be the end of Rahane as he still looks a brilliant player.

“I still think Rahane is still a solid player. He looks like he wants to be aggressive; the way he is playing doesn’t feel tentative. But he is getting out. In a lot of ways, being dropped and having the ability to come back and resettle everything as a batsman, particularly at the Test level, can weigh you down,” Vettori told ESPNcricinfo.

“If they [Indian team management] leave him out of the next Test match, I don’t think it will be a death-knell for his career; it will just be a one-Test dropping, because it just resets everything, gives him a chance to go back and do a bit of work.

“I think it’s hard to drop someone [Iyer] who has scored a century on Test debut against a quality side. So, it will probably be Rahane who will make way [for Kohli],” he added.