Ajinkya Rahane kept India in pole position in the ongoing IND vs BAN 1st Test match with his 21st half-century in Test cricket. It was also Rahane’s third consecutive 50-plus score in Test cricket and sixth in last nine innings. Rahane, who endured a long dry period of going 18 Test matches with a Test hundred before hitting form in West Indies earlier this year, got to his 21st Test fifty from 105 deliveries. His half-century, fourth in last nine Test innings, comprised of six boundaries helping India further stretch their 1st innings lead against Bangladesh at Indore. It was also the Indian vice-captain’s third Test half-century against Bangladesh four innings. India Vs Bangladesh, Live Cricket Score 1st Test Match.

Rahane, 32, tucked a full delivery from Abu Jayed to deep mid-wicket to reach the milestone. He is joined by former Indian skipper Mohammad Azharuddin as the 16 Indian batsmen to have scored 21 or more Test half-centuries. Azharuddin, who made 99 Test appearances for India, scored 21 Test fifties and 22 hundreds.

Rahane with 62 Test matches also has now scored 21 half-centuries in the longest form of cricket to go with his 11 hundreds. Sachin Tendulkar with 51 Test fifties is the Indian batsman to have scored most number of Test half-centuries. Rahane is also only one Test fifty behind Virat Kohli and Gautam Gambhir both of whom have scored Test half-centuries.

Meanwhile, the Indian Test vice-captain also became the 16th Indian batsmen to complete 4000 Test runs joining the likes of Sourav Ganguly and VVS Laxman in an elite Indian list. Rahane completed his 4000 Test runs in 104 Test innings the same as Ganguly and Laxman. The trio are joint fourth in the list of Indian batsmen to have taken the most number of innings to complete 4000 runs in Test cricket.

Only Kapil Dev (138 innings), MS Dhoni (116) and Dilip Vengsarkar (114) have taken m more innings to reach the Test landmark for India. Virender Sehwag leads the Indian list. Sehwag took only 79 innings to complete 4000 Test runs, while Sunil Gavaskar is the next best Indian with 81 innings. Sir Don Bradman is the fastest batsman ever to complete 4000 Test runs having taken only 48 innings.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Nov 15, 2019 01:40 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).