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India captain Ajinkya Rahane exhibited his ‘A-Game’ in the Boxing Day Test against Australia as he scored his 12th Test century on Day 2 of the match. Rahane got to the landmark with a square cut off Pat Cummins’ ball that went to the fence.
This was Rahane’s second Test hundred on Australian soil. Interestingly, both of them came at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). His first century in Australia came during 2014-15 tour.
The Mumbaikar also became the second Indian cricketer to score a ton on his first match as captain in Australia. Virat Kohli was the first one to do so in 2✅014 when he smashed a hundred in Adelaide.
Hundreds by Indian skippers in Australia (Tests)
- M Azharuddin – 106 Adelaide 1991/92
- S Tendulkar – 116 MCG 1999/00
- S Ganguly – 144 Gabba 2003/04
- V Kohli 115 & 141 – Adelaide 2014/15
- V Kohli 147 – SCG 2014/15
- V Kohli 123 – Perth 2018/19
- A Rahane 104* – MCG 2020/21
Along with Ravindra Jadeja, Rahane stitched a crucial century stand for the sixth wicket as India reached 277/5, going past Australia’s first innings total of 195.
At stumps, the visitors lead by 82 runs with R🅷ahane and Jadeja not out on 104 and 40 respectively.
Here is how Twitter reacted:
India captains to h🤪ave scored Test hundreds in Australia:
Kohli 4
Azharuddin 1
Tendulkar 1
Ganguly 1
RAHANE 1— Adam Burnett (@AdamBurnett09)
It's been long time coming for Ajinkya Rahane. This has been an excellent knock from him. Under pressure, with no Virat, he's stepped up big time. This though is what is expected of a senior. Hope he makes this a habit. Well begun, Ajinkya.
— Nikhil 🏏 (@CricCrazyNIKS)
Odds was against him, no Virat Kohli, Ishant Sharma, Shami, lost the toss, wicket losing at the other end but he scored a hundred from 195 balls including 11 fours. Well played, Rahane. Solid as you get – Captain.
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns)
Hundreds by Indian skippers in Australia (Tests)
M Azharuddin 106 Adelaide 1991/92
S Tendulkar 116 MCG 1999/00
S Ganguly 144 Gabba 2003/04
V Kohli 115 & 141 Adelaide 2014/15
V Kohli 147 SCG 2014/15
V Kohli 123 Perth 2018/19
A Rahane 100* MCG 2020/21— Deepu Narayanan (@deeputalks)
💯
Captain leading from the fꦕront. Brings up a brilliant century. His 12th in Test cricket 👏👏
— BCCI (@BCCI)
Two – the maximum 100s at the MCG by visiting Asian batsmen…
– Vinoo Mankad in 1948
– Sadiq Mohammad in 1972 & 1977
– Majid Khan in 1972 & 1979
– Ajinkya Rahane in 2014 & 2020— Mohandas Menon (@mohanstatsman)
Take a bow Jinx. Never stop believing. And we'll never stop believing in you.
— cricBC (@cricBC)
One of Rahane’s best Test hundreds. One of the ꦏbest away hundreds from an India captain. Leading by example. Leading from t🧸he front. Admiration and respect ✊
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash)
Top class ton from skipper Ajinkya Rahane. This ton is at par with his 103 at Lord’s, 147 at MCG in 2014 & 96 at Durban in 2013. It’s so hard to imagine that his spot in the playing XI is often questioned by💙 critics. Top player. This could be a series-defining ton
— Sarang Bhalerao (@bhaleraosarang)
.
— Wasim Jaffer (@WasimJaffer14)
Rahane 💯 👏👏👏
— Damien Fleming (@bowlologist)
Clearly one of his finest hundreds. Leading a team bowled out for 36 and written off by the world, this innings is defined by the wor𝓡d character𝓀. Superbly played and brilliant support from India inching closer to a sizeable lead.
— Boria Majumdar (@BoriaMajumdar)
Rahane's ruthlessness as a leader should have been clear to the Australians when he coldly ran out his captaincy predecessor
— Dan Liebke (@LiebCricket)
Led the side well now Soli🐎d 100 by Team India in the driving 🐓seat now
— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan)
Ajinkya Rahane's last 27 runs before reaching his century came from just 30 deliveries against the second new ball – textbook acceleration from the Indian skipper.
— The CricViz Analyst (@cricvizanalyst)
Showing again what he's made of, Ajinkya . Has played more fluent innings than this before but none better 👏👏👏
— Deep Dasgupta (@DeepDasgupta7)
Century!!!! Rahane you legend. When moments need to be made, great leaders stand up. Well done Captain Rahane. ജ
— Brad Hogg (@Brad_Hogg)
We have just witnessed the consummat൩e Test century. Full of admiration for this guy, who has leadership thrust upon him aꦛnd risen to the challenge. Outstanding innings.
— Ric Finlay (@RicFinlay)
Sometimes you see a performance that mirrors a player's character. This century by did just that. He can be so proud of this innings.
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha)
A look at the Honours Board at the G.
. scored a Test century in 2014 and here he is today all setꦜ to get his name engraved again.
Well done, Skip 💯
— BCCI (@BCCI)
Trying to think of better test tons at the MCG from the visiting team in last 30 years ….my picks below….
Sachin 116 in 1999
Vaughan 145 in 200
Kallis 101 in 1997
Sehwag 195 in 2003
Duminy 166 in 2008
Trott 168* in 2010Rahane 104* today…..
— Rob Moody (@robelinda2)
Ajinkya Rahane you absolute beauty – you are an inspiration to us all – so proud of you and so happy that one of the nicest guys in the world is getting his time in the sun – come on India
— Parth Jindal (@ParthJindal11)
Massive moment. Hard hard work out there.
— Melanie McLaughlin (@Mel_Mclaughlin)
So impressive. Taken his game to another level in t𒊎he absence of Kohli. 👏🏽
— Trent Copeland (@copes9)
Rahane scored a series turning 52 against Australia in Bangalore in 2017 which he ra꧙tes as one of his best Test knocks. Under pressure to lose a home series. This knock should rank the same or slightly above considering the pressure and dependency on him person🅷ally.
— Gaurav Sundararaman (@gaurav_sundar)
I✱n the context of this match, this series, his record here or even ignoring all of that, what a sensational innings from Rahane. Magnificent. Good thing that one Jinx does actually exist, eh?
— Melinda Farrell (@melindafarrell)
A captains 💯 solid , gritty and calm just like his personality sharp mind i🍬n field setting aswell ! looking great h൲ow good has he become batting lowerdown the order for🇮🇳 ! Great start for @RealShubmanGill ! We are looking good for a decent lead 👊🏽
— Yuvraj Singh (@YUVSTRONG12)
A nice little gift from Aji🔜nkya Rahane for India fans𓃲 🎁
— ICC (@ICC)
ꩵRuns overseas and especially in Australia against this attack. Splendid stuff from the stand in skipper . at its best.
— Hemang Badani (@hemangkbadani)
First Test – runs out his captain, reviews a plumb lbw, one of the 36 all out.
Second Test – takes over as captain, scores a hundred, celebrates as if he’s scored a 50 in a warm-up match.It’s Ajinkya Rahane.
— Simon Mann (@Cricket_Mann)
. shows Test match batting is about swallowing your ego. Lie low for the first two sessions, show your swagger in the final session. Mumbai ishtyle Test♐ batting. Top effort skipper, kudos!
— Mohammad Kaif (@MohammadKaif)
