With Day 1 of the Boxing Day Test between India and Australia at the Melbourne Cricket Ground behind us, fans of the Men in Blue are thoroughly impressed with Ajinkya Rahane, who stepped up as an audacious captain in the absence of Virat Kohli.

Rahane has shown remarkable courage and instincts with this team selection and field placing.

It high time to make Virat Kohli "Deliver Boy" permanently 🤣🤣🤣

#AUSvIND#Rahane @virendersehwag pic.twitter.com/HrMEs8aOvS

— Betaaz Badshah (@bhaveshkjha) December 26, 2020

As Kohli returns home to be with his wife Anushka Sharma on a paternity leave to experience the birth of their first child, critics weren’t convinced that Rahane would be able to fill the former’s shoes.

The absence of 'supreme' leader (Kohli) has has resulted in 11 captains and a well-knit Team India. Amazing camaraderie! Rahane was fantastic with field placements and belief. #AUSvIND #BoxingDayTest

— GP (@gaurav_prabhu) December 26, 2020

The notion also came following a devastating loss that India faced in the Adelaide Test when the roster was supposedly at full strength, but still got wrapped up for 36 runs to record the lowest ever total in an international Test for India.

#AUSvIND
Team without rohit ,kohli and Rahul is looking good under Rahane captaincy

— Harshit Agrawal (@harshit27272) December 26, 2020

However, going by how Rahane used his bowlers and also the fact that Indian fielders didn’t miss any catching opportunities, it earned him ample credibility as the boss man of the squad.

Rahane anyday is better captain than kohli...kohli is never a captaincy material

— Sree (@coolsreez) December 26, 2020

From suggesting a permanent spot at captaincy for Rahane to demanding Kohli work harder on his ability to lead a team when he joins the squad after his leave, fans of the team had a lot to say online:

angaar performance.. rahane better captain than Kohli.. :D

— Mishal S (@mishalsha) December 26, 2020

#INDvsAUS Dhoni handed over captaincy to Kohli in AUS seies. is it blessing in disguise for Rahane? @virendersehwag @sachin_rt

— Amitabh Ranjan (@AmitabhRanjan10) December 26, 2020

Under Kohli captaincy: Ind 36/9
Under Rahane captaincy: Ind 36/1
Kholly for peramanent babysitter 🏼🏼

— मा. राजू काळे (@therajukale) December 26, 2020

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