For someone who didn't score a Test fifty in over an year, Ajinkya Rahane was believed to be in over his head when he was tasked with the responsibility of leading the Indian cricket team in the 2nd Test against Australia. While some doubted his credentials to successfully lead India, especially after their Adelaide debacle, others felt that the added burden of captaincy might take a toll on his batting.

However, what eventually unfolded at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) over a span of three-and-a-half days has allowed Rahane to shut the naysayers for good. In a befitting reply to the critics, Rahane delivered the goods in both the roles - as a captain and batsman. His ability to read the game in key situations saw him making impactful field placements and shuffling the bowlers to good effect.

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If his captaincy impressed pundits and fans, Rahane's match-winning batting performance further earned him plaudits. Aiding India in precarious situations, Rahane slammed a game-changing 112 during his crucial 121-run partnership with Ravindra Jadeja (57) in the first innings. And, with an unbeaten 27 in the second innings, Rahane ensured India got over the line, notching up an eight-wicket win.

Leading India with maturity and helping his team level the four-match Test series 1-1, Rahane, on the back of his batting masterclass, earned a coveted honour that he is bound to cherish for ages to come. The right-hander's spectacular knock allowed him to get his name engraved on the prestigious MCG Honours Board.

The Indian cricket board shared a video of the proceedings on Instagram where an MCG employee was seen putting up Rahane's name on the honorary board. "Following a batting masterclass in the Boxing Day Test against Australia, #TeamIndia 🇮🇳 captain @ajinkyarahane has his name engraved on the MCG Honours Board for the second time," the video caption read.

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