“It’s the right call,” BCCI gets backing from former cricketers over Ajinkya Rahane’s selection for WTC Final

Former Australia captain Aaron Finch too backed BCCI over Ajinkya Rahane’s selection.

“It’s the right call,” BCCI gets backing from former cricketers over Ajinkya Rahane’s selection for WTC Final

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced India’s squad for the World Test Championship Final. While there were some regular names, one name stood out for everyone- Ajinkya Rahane. The former India vice-captain in Tests, Rahane had lost his place in the squad after a string of failures. However, he has been now included in the WTC Final squad and the BCCI selectors are getting a pat on the back from former cricketers for this decision.

Many ex-cricketers including former India head coach Ravi Shastri and ex-BCCI selector MSK Prasad have called it the right decision. While Shastri claimed that the best team has been selected, MSK Prasad said that Rahane fits in the scheme of things perfectly.

“It’s a fair team, it’s the right call. Ajinkya with so much of uncertainty in the middle-order, I think they (selectors) were absolutely right,” Prasad told India Today. “I am very, very happy for him. He has always been a wonderful performer for India in the away series. And I think he fits the bill perfectly. Full credit to the selectors for bringing him back.”

Meanwhile, Shastri expressed his views through a tweet. “Best Indian team selected. Well done selectors and team management #WTCFinal2023 #TeamIndia,” Shastri tweeted.

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

Aaron Finch also backs BCCI

aaron finch rahane

While former India cricketers looked happy with India’s WTC squad, former Australia captain Aaron Finch too backed BCCI over Ajinkya Rahane’s selection. Finch said that Rahane must be in the squad considering none of Shreyas Iyer and Rishabh Pant are available. Finch believes that players like Rahane have plenty of experience for big matches like the WTC final and hold huge importance too.

“In big games, you want the option of players having plenty of experience. With Shreyas injured, and Rishabh also injured, which is very unfortunate, Rahane must be in the squad,” Finch told IANS. “We all had seen how important he was in the Australia Test series (in 2020/21), when he took over the captaincy after Virat had come home. The calmness he brings, the experience and class he has, the overall demeanour with him in the squad becomes pretty important,” added Finch.

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