Why Ajinkya Rahane’s selection for the ICC Test Championship final is justified

For those who think Rahane is back on the Test side because of his performances in the IPL, that's wrong. He has played 82 Tests, which is rich experience in the red ball format.

Why Ajinkya Rahane’s selection for the ICC Test Championship final is justified

Ajinkya Rahane

Bang in the middle of the Indian Premier League, when cricket fans hear of the Indian team being named for the ICC World Test Championship Final against Australia, there is a lot of intrigue. The much-awaited final between India and the men from Down Under led by Pat Cummins will be staged at The Oval from June 7 to 11. An extra day has been added, keeping in mind the fickle English summer.

In 2021, when rain ruined the ICC Test final at the Aegas Bowl in Southampton, New Zealand won the trophy on the sixth day, under the leadership of Kane Williamson. It was bizarre, for rain had prevented play all along.

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Coming to the next ICC Test cycle, India making it to the final was in itself a miracle. Rohit Sharma’s side did win the BGT series, courtesy of a dead track prepared for the fourth Test in Ahmedabad. At a time when the chatter is over the return of Ajinkya Rahane, a man who as a stand-in India captain on several occasions has performed like a true champion, there are many more questions that need to be asked.

Rohit, himself, has been in poor form for a long time. He did hammer a hundred in the first Test against Australia but after that was looking like a fish out of water. His performances in the IPL have also been pretty lackluster, not resembling a man who led Mumbai Indians to the premier T20 domestic trophy five times.

What is galling is the BCCI selectors have not named the vice-captain again. Reasons for it have not been given, which is pretty much in sync with the way the BCCI functions these days. Frankly speaking, why the BCCI has not named a new chairman of the selection committee is also baffling. After Chetan Sharma was sacked, reinstated, and then again sacked, there has been a vacuum. The present “bunch of jokers,” a phrase framed by Mohinder Amarnath, still sticks.

These days, the selectors of the BCCI are not famous men who have played with distinction like before. Perhaps, the selection committee actually resembling very average players from the past began with MSK Prasad as a head. Chetan was there as a ‘yes man’ and completed his full term. Why the BCCI feels there is no need for a chairman of the selection committee is as opaque as not deciding to name a deputy to Rohit Sharma.

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In English summer conditions, Ajinkya should be of immense value in the middle order with Pujara

Ajinkya Rahane an obvious choice in the Indian squad for ICC Test Championship final
Ajinkya Rahane

For those who think Rahane is back on the Test side because of his performances in the IPL, that’s wrong. He has played 82 Tests, which is rich experience in the red ball format. In English summer conditions, he should be of immense value in the middle order with Cheteshwar Pujara. The Saurashtra skipper is in England playing County cricket. Rahane also has a County stint signed on but the way he has been hammering runs for Chennai Super Kings may see him forced to play in the IPL 2023 longer than expected.

Before the IPL began, Rohit had spoken of how some players could reach England in May itself. It meant teams in the IPL not doing well could see their players (part of the Test squad) flying out. There is no clarity on which IPL sides will be out of the race for the Eliminator and Playoffs right now. However, when one talks of time and adjustment to the rigors of Test cricket in England in very different conditions, it’s going to be hard for all. The Aussies will have revenge on their mind.

No debate is complete without the negative comments for Test wicket-keeper KS Bharat. Critics have been caustic that he did not do well in the BGT Series. The pot has been shaken and stirred, whether Bharat will play the one-off Test or KL Rahul will don the gloves. That Rahul has not done anything sensational in the IPL is well known. His batting in white ball cricket has been selfish, bordering on ridicule. To think he will don the gloves for red-ball cricket is absurd.

It is as absurd as saying Rahane is a substitute for injured Shreyas Iyer. Shreyas’s absence due to injuries over and over again and the failed experiment of SKY — Suryakumar Yadav — means the middle order needs Pujara and Rahane. There are some mocking Rahane he did not do well in the Ranji season (2022-23). For the record, he scored 634 runs at an average of 57.63 for Mumbai. It was not Rahane who flopped but the Mumbai team.

As long as “oldies” in their mid-30s can prove themselves, Virat Kohli, Pujara, and Rahane — there is still hope for India in the ICC Test Championship final. The failures were SKY and Shreyas, whose own fitness has been a joke. For a batter to deal with so many injuries is crazy.

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