Dilip Vengsarkar picks Ajinkya Rahane as backup opener for upcoming World Cup

Dilip Vengsarkar, who has acted as India captain during his playing career, has opined that India must include Ajinkya Rahane in the squad for the upcoming 2019 ICC ODI World Cup which is to be played in England and Wales. One of the reasons that Vengsarkar said was because of Rahane's familiarity with the conditions in the European region.

Vengsarkar has opined that Rahane, who has played 56 Test matches and 90 ODIs, will be a perfect candidate for the number four slot and believes that the Mumbai opener can also become the back-up opener.

“He (Ajinkya) will give the middle order the much-needed solidity besides the option as an opening batsman too as he has the experience of opening and also batting at No 4. Mind you, it’s not a Twenty20 tournament but the 50-over World Cup where building a team total will decide the fate of the teams. We need a total of at least 280 in every game,” Vengsarkar told Mumbai Mirror.

“I feel by ignoring talented and experienced Ajinkya, the Indian think tank is doing grave injustice to him. He is a proven batsman in the English conditions and an outstanding fielder too.”

Ambati Rayudu, is at present, India's first choice for the number four slot but has struggled to score runs in recent games after a match-winning 90 against New Zealand in the final ODI last month. The CSK batsman has managed to score only 33 runs in three ODIs against Australia in the ongoing series.