Veteran Indian batter Ajinkya Rahane made BCCI selectors dance to his tunes as he earned a way back to the Indian Test team following a blistering outing in IPL 2023. It did raise many questions as to why is he being given a chance despite BCCI having a sea of young batters to choose from.
Rahane was lost in the echo for more than a year in Test cricket and it took him 326 runs in 14 IPL matches to find a way route back to the Test team. It will not be a return if you are not returning like Rahane. Away from the team for a year to be appointed as Vice Captain that too for an ICC WTC Final.
Ajinkya Rahane smashed a brilliant hundred at Lord's On this day in 2014.
India were in big Trouble & Rahane scored 103 runs from 154 balls against Anderson-Broad.pic.twitter.com/8eVjQzN9rr
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) July 17, 2023
While many opposed this decision, Ajinkya Rahane ended up being India’s top scorer at Oval against Australia but India failed to win. His spot in the Indian team is still there as India cruised over West Indies in the first of the 2-match test series but if he doesn’t score runs here his Vice-captaincy role and a slot in the batting line-up will be under scrutiny.
He got out in an ordinary fashion at Dominica and the 2nd Test at Port of Spain ould well be his last chance to stretch his Test career. India’s next Test series in the 2023-25 WTC Cycle is against South Africa in December after the Asia Cup, Asian Games and the 50-over World cup.
Team India's Schedule in 2023/25 WTC Cycle:
2 Tests | Jul 2023 | IND tour WI
2 Tests | Dec 2023-Jan 2024 | IND tour SA
5 Tests | Jan-Feb 2024 | ENG tour IND
2 Tests | Sep-Oct 2024 | Ban tour IND
3 Tests | Oct-Nov 2024 | NZ tour IND
5 Tests | Nov 2024-Jan 2025 | IND Tour AUS#WTC pic.twitter.com/YEpHxLXjTl— Indian Sports Fans. Fan Curated & Original (@IndianSportFan) July 17, 2023
A lot of happen in that time. Selectors might even choose any other batter depending upon their performance in these tournaments. So all Ajinkya Rahane has are the 2 Innings at Trinidad from 20th July to prove himself once again because IPL only comes once a year and he will not be in that form next year.
In 84 Test matches, Rahane has scored 5069 runs at an average of 38.69.
