However, his performances in ODI cricket paint a completely different picture as he is yet to find his feet in the format even after five years. It is never easy for an Indian cricketer to live up to the hopes and aspirations of millions of fans. If one doesn’t fit in quickly to the team, it becomes more difficult for him with every passing game. With more and more young and talented players waiting on the fringes, a player always needs to cash in on the opportunities provided to him. The modern format demands batsmen with versatility and an X-factor. Unfortunately, Ajinkya Rahane, India’s brightest talent in Test cricket, is proving to have none of these qualities in the limited-over format.

At the moment it looks like the Indian team management has firm faith in Rahane that one day he will get out of the rut he finds himself in and becomes the same player that he is in Test cricket. He is special in the way he bats; the elegance, the timing, the grace and the class makes him an absolute treat to watch. However, what he lacks are two vital aspects of modern day cricket - the ability to rotate the strike and also the ability to score at a brisk pace. It has often been seen that he gets tied down a bit at the beginning of his innings especially if pace bowlers are operating. He tries to go for the odd boundary to release the pressure created by dot balls and that eventually leads to his downfall. Even if he survives the initial burst his inability to accelerate at the back-end of the innings like Rohit Sharma makes him a less tempting option to field in white ball cricket.

Although India has backed players like Rohit Sharma who didn’t get to the best of starts in international cricket in the past, Rahane may not get the same luxury. The reason India could back Rohit Sharma in the past was because the team was in a reconstructing phase at that time. With the lack of players who could influence the game with their individual performances, it was necessary for India to back Rohit who looked like one of those prospects. And he didn’t disappoint! However, now that there is a bunch of immensely talented players on the bench waiting, India cannot afford to keep giving endless opportunities to any of those players like Rahane; for it would be injustice to the others.

However, for a player like Rahane to succeed it is important to assign him a particular role in this format. It is the responsibility of the team management including Coach Anil Kumble and Virat Kohli to chalk down a plan on how to use the immense potential of Rahane; for excluding him could be a huge loss to the team. Even former Indian Captain Sourav Ganguly has echoed his thoughts in support of Rahane saying: "Rahane needs to settle down and Dhoni and Anil Kumble need to have a word with him. I don't think Rahane's place is in doubt. He is a bit like Rahul Dravid. When Dravid came in, he struggled with his run-rate. He got a role and that's what the team management needs to do with Rahane. He is not a boundary-hitter. He needs a bit of time and then keep hitting deliveries in the gap. To think of leaving him out from the ODI side will be an absolute blunder by the team."