He is not a superstar in the team, and that is possibly why there is not much hullabaloo about him being dropped from the playing eleven time and again, and that too unfairly. What is most frustrating about the situation is the fact that he is being dropped in favour of people who haven't proved themselves as much as he has on the international stage over the last couple of years. And yet, there hasn't been much hue and cry over the shabby treatment being meted out to the Mumbai batsman. Had there been any other flamboyant player in the side, every analyst might have been writing about the unjust treatment being given to the player.
The fact of the matter is that across formats, Rahane has been the most consistent player for India in the last couple of seasons, and possibly even more. Yet, he was dropped in 
Bangladesh after just one failure. For the very next series, against Zimbabwe, he was not only recalled but made captain. That was of course since most of the seniors including MS Dhoni were rested for that tour. He then played a match-turning knock in a Test in Sri Lanka, batting at the tough position of number three, where he was sent in to protect the talented Rohit Sharma. Interestingly, Rohit rarely gets dropped in spite of having a much higher failure rate in comparison to Rahane.
The fact of the matter is that neither in Bangladesh nor in the recent T20s against South Africa did Rahane deserve to be dropped. On the other hand, his record merits that he should be among the first players to be picked in the playing eleven irrespective of the format, such has been his consistency. Dhoni's preference for Ambati Rayudu over Rahane really seems bizarre. No, this is no effort to demean Rayudu. He is a good player in his own right. But, why seek a solution when there is no problem in the first place? Rahane had done nothing wrong to be carrying drinks against South Africa in the first place. If Dhoni is keen on slotting in Rayudu, he should look for another alternative, may be at number seven.
Critics may point out at his record, and claim that he has not been as consistent as they expected him to. Here again, it must be taken into account that Rahane has sacrificed a lot for the team. He has willingly batted in unfamiliar positions just for the team's cause. And that cannot be held against him. In Sri Lanka for example, he came in at number three after the unnecessarily hyped 'Rohit at number three' tactic had failed. Rahane struggled against the moving ball but yet was able to put together a hundred. In ODIs and T20s as well, he has either opened the innings or has come in down the order as per the demands of the situation.
The word going around is that Dhoni and Kohli are having a cold war. If their recent statements are taken into account, there are hints pointing towards the same. One can only hope that Team India isn't the loser in case there is any truth in the reports. Consider this. Rahane and Amit Mishra play crucial roles in the Test series win in Sri Lanka -- this under Kohli's captaincy. In the very next series, Dhoni is back as leader, and both Rahane and Mishra are dropped from the playing eleven instantly. One can only hope that this a coincidence. If not, God bless Indian cricket.
-- By A Cricket Analyst
