Ajinkya Rahane 'Most Complete Indian Player', Record Better Than Virat Kohli: Sunil Gavaskar

Ajinkya Rahane, who scored an unbeaten 100 on Sunday to become the fifth Indian to score a century in both innings of a Test, was lauded by Sunil Gavaskar as the most 'complete player' in the current Indian team. (Ajinkya Rahane Shines With Second Ton, Proteas Fight to Save Game)

"Ajinkya Rahane is currently the most complete Test batsman in the team. He is brilliant both in attacking and defending. He has done well everywhere, in all the conditions whereas Virat Kohli struggled in England," Gavaskar told NDTV. (Ajinkya Rahane Joins Virat Kohli, Rahul Dravid in Elite Club of Centurions)

Rahane had scored 127 in India's first innings before hitting an unbeaten 100 in the second innings on Sunday. He has scored a century each in Australia, New Zealand, England and Sri Lanka before hitting two tons against South Africa here.

Gavaskar felt sorry for captain Kohli for missing out on a hundred as he was out for 88, adding just five runs to his overnight 83.

"I feel sorry for Virat that he could not score a century at his home ground which would have been memorable. He should have got a hundred yesterday. It is not easy for anybody to start again after a break and in his case it was an overnight break," said the former India captain.

South Africa crawled to 72 runs for two from 72 overs they faced on Sunday in their second innings but Gavaskar said he was not surprised with the ultra-defensive approach of the Proteas.

"They (South Africans) were doing what their team needed. It might not be attractive for the spectators who would want a lot of fours and sixes but this (slow batting) is what the South African team needed.

"It's all the more admirable for AB de Villiers who is such an explosive batsman to curb his aggression. But he was doing what his team needed," Gavaskar said.

"India need to have more fielders in the catching positions. They need to break Hashim Amla-AB de Villiers partnership and the rest of the South African players will cave in easily."

With India unlikely to lose the final Test from the strong position that they are currently in, Gavaskar said beating South Africa in the series with a 2-0 or 3-0 margin was a terrific achievement for the team.

"It will be a huge achievement whatever the margin, whether 2-0 or 3-0. South Africa are the number one Test team and they have not lost an overseas series for nine years. It is a terrific achievement for India," Gavaskar said.