Indian captain Virat Kohli on Wednesday made it clear that Karun Nair's one triple hundred cannot "overshadow" the two years of consistent performance by his deputy Ajinkya Rahane who now "walks back" into the playing XI as a fully fit player.
Rahane didn't have a great series against England and was out with a fractured hand but is now going to be picked ahead of Nair for the one-off Test starting on Thursday.
"See, I feel one game doesn't overshadow two years of hardwork from another player. You need to understand what 'Jinx' (nickname) has done for the team over the past two years. He averages almost 50 in the format and he is probably most solid batsman in our team in the Test format," said Kohli as he ended speculation on who will bat at No 5.
Young Nair is expected to go down as one of the rarest players after Englishman Andy Sandham, who scored 325 against West Indies at Kingston in 1925, to be dropped from the very next game. In Sandham's case, he was 40 at that time and never subsequently played a Test match.
But Kohli made it clear that the triple century has helped Karun seal a spot in the squad which is a no mean feat.
"Karun was stepping into his (Rahane's) shoes and what he did was remarkable, sealing his spot as far as the squad is concerned. That was something that Karun did. As I said you can't overlook Ajinkya's two years of hardwork on basis of one Test match. He (Rahane) deserves to walk back into the team whenever he got fit. That's my take on it," he said.
‘Bangla DON’T play ENOUGH’
Never the one to underestimate opposition, Indian captain Virat Kohli on Wednesday said Bangladesh have it in them to become a force in the Test arena provided they play the five-day format more often.
Kohli made the observation in the pre-match press conference of the one-off Test against the neighbours starting on Thursday.
"I think they have the skill they just don't play that many Test matches to gain confidence as a squad. It's very basic. They have become a very good one-day side because of the fact that they play so many ODIs and they have their set combinations. If you don't play Test cricket very often, you will never understand the mindset. That's where it comes from," Kohli said.
"They have beaten all the sides in one-day cricket, because they know how to play the format. You can practice as much as you want but game time is important. Ability is going to be there. It's the mindset that changes from format to format," he added.
"I am sure that if they play more Test cricket they will become solid Test players and a solid Test team as well. I think it should be pushed. They certainly have the ability to compete at the Test level."
Kohli also backed the idea of Bangladesh touring India more often. "They haven't come to India much is what I have recently found out. I hope this can happen much more. We have gone there too many times, they should come here more often.”