Ajinkya Rahane: Delivering under duress

New Delhi: His credentials as batting mainstay of India's ODI side may have been questioned by no less than MS Dhoni himself, but Ajinkya Rahane's ability as a Test batsman has never been in doubt.

The right-hander offered further proof of his importance to India's batting line-up in the longer format, as he registered his fifth Test ton during the fourth Test against South Africa at Feroz Shah Kotla.

Five tons in 22 Tests may not appear overly impressive, but what stats don't capture is how and when the Mumbai batsman has scored those runs

Rahane's three-figure scores have come when his side has been under immense pressure in hostile batting conditions.

Much like Rahul Dravid, the 27-year-old has made it a habit to stand firm when wickets have tumbled around him.

With hundreds in New Zealand, England, Australia, Sri Lanka and now in India, Rahane has shown time and again that he is capable of swimming against the tide.

Be it batting an a green top at Lord's or on a difficult wicket in Colombo, Rahane's ability to adjust and adapt in high-pressure situations has been remarkable.

Over the years, Indian batsmen have garnered a reputation for being flat track bullies. However, the soft spoken Rahane has once again shown that he is cut from a different cloth to that of his peers.