It's in the top three or nowhere else for Ajinkya Rahane

That Ajinkya Rahane is one of the more complete batsmen in the Indian team was never in question. But whether he is ever going to bat at the position that makes him the most lethal in One-Day Internationals, was.

The right-hander has proved his worth at the top of the other with some scintillating displays in IPL. He has also shown time and again how he can hold his own and score big batting down the order in Tests. In ODIs, too, he has shown that he can match up against the best.

He played one of the more outstanding knocks in recent times when he took on the South Africans in Melbourne during the World Cup earlier this year and smashed a potentially-match-winning 79. He was batting at No. 4 back then, and going by the knock, it seemed like it had put an end to the debate about India's batting order. Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma to open. Virat Kohli and Rahane to follow. Suresh Raina, MS Dhoni and an all-rounder to complete the batting line-up. On paper, that does look complete and extremely competent.

But then, something changed. Over the course of the next five-six ODIs that followed the 79 against South Africa, Rahane just managed 138 runs off 216 deliveries. An average of 27.6 at a strike-rate of 63.8 was never going to be enough to keep him in the side. He lost his place during the ODIs against Bangladesh, but then strangely he was made captain for the ODIs against Zimbabwe. He opened the batting and managed one fifty in the three-match series. It was clear that the team wanted to play him, but they were just unsure where.

More confusion followed when Dhoni made his intentions of batting at No. 4 clear. With Ravi Shastri backing him, too, it looked like Rahane was set for a longer spell on the sidelines. The batting order was now shrouded with more perplexity. Who the new No. 6 will be? How Dhoni will fare? And where Ajinkya Rahane fits in in this scheme of things?

At that time, with Kohli having made the No. 3 spot his own, Rahane's chance in the side looked dependent on someone's fitness, the lack of it, or their form, again the lack of it. Dhoni wanted to move up the order and bat at four, and give a younger cricketer an opportunity to play and learn at the crucial No. 6 position, and he didn't think Rahane was the sort of player who was primed for batting there.

"Ajinkya Rahane is someone who should bat up the order," Dhoni had said ahead of the ODIs. "Batting lower down, he faces some difficulty. It's slightly difficult for him as of now. Especially, if I'm looking for somebody to bat 5, 6 or 7, I don't think he's the person. His strength is more up the order."

There was nothing in Dhoni's words that suggested Rahane getting a go in the side at least not to start the series off with. However, no one had pre-visioned what followed. Virat Kohli was moved down the order to accommodate Rahane at three, and the right-hander has looked to have settled the debate regarding the batting order once again. Although guilty of throwing away good starts, Rahane has been the most consistent Indian batsman in this series. His scores of 60 and 51 in the first two ODIs weren't the prettiest scored, but it highlighted the ability Rahane has to succeed at No. 3. To graft and pull through. To stem the rot after an early setback. To provide the lower order with a good platform.

The batting order, too, as Dhoni admitted had a more solid feel to it, now. "If you see, the batting order looks much more balanced," he said following the side's series-levelling victory in Indore. "It doesn't really matter whether you are batting first or chasing. Kohli at four, me, Raina and Axar to follow - it gives the kind of strength that is needed. These are the type of batsmen who can play either type of cricket when needed. It gives that confidence into the middle order."

Once again, Rahane seemed to have settled arguments about his slot in the line-up. But, once again, it was thrown open after the third ODI. Chasing 271 to take the lead in the series, India sent Kohli, Dhoni and Raina all above Rahane. In fact, when Rahane got to take strike, the side was staring down the barrel and expecting a miracle from the right-hander.

As talented and adaptable as Rahane is, he is not the sort of player who can walk in and take the attack to the opposition from ball one. Not for want of trying, though. He fell to Morne Morkel after making just four. The failure at Rajkot only highlighted Rahane's impact at the top of the order, and sadly, the lack of it if he were to drop down. Twice in two matches, he came in with less than fifty runs on the board, and both times he cracked fifties. That the knocks were of contrasting fashion makes it all the more impressive for Rahane. Also, it puts India in with three batsmen, Kohli, Dhoni and Raina, capable of taking the bowling apart from around the half-way point of the innings. With their experience, they should be able to guide, steady and launch the finish as required.

Rahane in the top order makes sense for Team India. It is a move India need to invest in more.