Ajinkya Rahane leads from the front, scores an impactful 50 in Ind-Aus Boxing Day Test

Skipper Ajinkya Rahane turned up when his team needed him most with a vital half-century on Day 2 of ongoing Boxing Day Test match against Australia at Melbourne Cricket Ground. Rahane is India's stand-in captain t only for this match, but also for remainder of series as regular skipper Virat Kohli has flown back to India on paternity leave. 

Coming back to contest, 'Jinx' has shown that he is t being burdened with ded responsibility of leing Indian side in a must-win contest after being completely outplayed in first Test at elaide Oval last week.

'Great kck under pressure'

As Mumbai batsman scored his 23rd half-century in game's longest format, netizens came forward to laud him for playing a captain's kck under pressure. Here are some of reactions.

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 Ajinkya Rahane playing a captain's kck

After India were reduced to 64/3 in first session of Day 2, stand-in captain Ajinkya Rahane took matters into his own hands and ensured that re were furr hiccups and ded a 52-run stand for fourth-wicket with Hanuma Vihari before latter was dismissed. Test specialist n went on to d 57 runs along with wicket-keeper batsman Rishabh Pant for fifth-wicket stand and when youngster caught behind by his Australian counterpart Tim Paine off Mitchell Starc for 29, Team India lost half ir side with 173 runs on board. At same time, this is also first individual fifty in match. Australia's number four batsman Marnus Labuschagne h scored 48 on Day 1 before Ajinkya Rahane surpassed him.

However, Border-Gavaskar Trophy holders will be relieved that Rahane is still out in middle. He is still going strong on 53 and has lower middle-order batsman Ravindra Jeja alongside him who is unbeaten on 4 as India are 189/5 at tea break and need just six runs to overhaul Australia's first innings total. 

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