Kanpur: Notwithstanding criticism for making Ajinkya Rahane warm benches, Indian skipper MS Dhoni on Saturday hinted that the talented batsman may not feature in the playing XI for the first ODI vs South Africa as he fits into the setup only in the 'top three' batting slots.


India ODI skipper MS Dhoni with Ajinkya Rahane (right) during a training session at Green Park Stadium in Kanpur on Saturday. Pic/AFP

Dhoni, who had earlier criticised Rahane for not rotating the strike enough in limited overs, said that the Mumbai batsman should only bat at the top of the order and not at five or six. With top three — Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan and Virat Kohli — selecting themselves for the series opener at Green Park, it is unlikely that Rahane will fit the bill.