“One-off selection”- Netizens react as Ajinkya Rahane returns to Test side for WTC Final
Ajinkya Rahane, on the back of a series of impressive performances in domestic matches and his recent exploits for the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the Indian Premier League (IPL), has earned the call to wear the white jersey again.
Ajinkya Rahane
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has released the 15-member squad for the highly anticipated World Test Championship (WTC) final. India under Rohit Sharma will lock horns with Pat Cummins-led Australia from June 7 to 11. Though there have not been many significant changes in the squad, there is one man who has made a comeback to the Test side after being sidelined for over one year.
Ajinkya Rahane, on the back of a series of impressive performances in domestic matches and his recent exploits for the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the Indian Premier League (IPL), has earned the call to wear the white jersey again.
“I don’t want to prove anything to anyone,” Rahane had told ESPNCricinfo about his career. “I think my competition is with myself. If I stick to that, things will fall into place. I don’t want to run after anything…just want to back my game.”
The veteran Test batter last played for India in January 2022 but was a regular face for Ranji Trophy team Mumbai, where he scored 634 runs in 11 matches, including two hundred at an average of 57.63. Another reason behind Rahane’s return to the side is the absence of Shreyas Iyer, who underwent back surgery. The former vice-captain’s comeback to the side has also left out Suryakumar Yadav who was included in the squad for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series.
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Check Twitter reactions after Ajinkya Rahane’s return to Test side for the WTC final
Meanwhile, the 34-year-old has donned the white jersey 82 times, aggregating 4931 runs with his highest being 188. He has 12 centuries and 25 half-centuries in the format to his name. And in the ongoing IPL season, the CSK batter collected 209 runs at an average of 52.25 at an incredible strike rate of 199.04 so far. He also stands third in the list of highest run-scorers in the cash-rich league currently.
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