Former India head coach Ravi Shastri has praised the number of veteran batter Ajinkya Rahane in India’s squad for the World Test Championship (WTC) last towards Australia. Shastri believes that having an skilled campaigner like Rahane will likely be useful in a one-off massive sport, such because the WTC last, and cited Rahane’s management and efficiency in India’s historic 2-1 Border-Gavaskar Trophy triumph in Australia simply two-and-a-half years in the past. Shastri additionally highlighted Rahane’s latest performances in home cricket, the place he made 250 runs in 5 innings within the Duleep Trophy and was Mumbai’s main run-scorer within the Ranji Trophy with 634 runs from seven matches, together with a double-century and a century.
“Absolutely, it’s a one-off big game, like the Super Bowl, and you need your experienced player. Don’t forget just two-and-a-half years ago, the man won a Test series in Australia. He was the captain when Virat (Kohli) went (on paternity leave) and did a sterling job. People forget that hundred at the MCG, the way he played, and the fact that he’s gone back to the grind. You saw what it did with Pujara, he went back to the grind playing domestic cricket, playing county cricket, just got the number of runs under his belt, then came back into Test cricket and performed. It’s the same thing with Rahane, let’s hope that experience comes in handy,” Shastri was quoted as saying by ESPNCricinfo on the Ravi & Raunak Show.
Ajinkya Rahane included within the Indian crew for the WTC last.
Welcome again, Rahane. pic.twitter.com/QarI9TCXoo
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) April 25, 2023
Rahane had been omitted of the Test crew since January 2022 as a consequence of a dip in type and a hamstring damage sustained throughout IPL 2022, however he labored exhausting to recuperate and regain his spot within the crew. Shastri emphasised the significance of Rahane’s expertise, particularly with Shreyas Iyer unavailable as a consequence of a again surgical procedure. Shastri denied claims that Rahane’s type in IPL 2023 performed a hand in his return to the Test crew, stating that individuals will need to have been on vacation for six months in the event that they weren’t conscious of Rahane’s first-class cricket performances.
“Oh, a lot, because the memory is fresh. Domestic cricket was over two months ago. People might tend to forget it, even the selectors. Suddenly you come in and play that kind of innings where you look at ease, the timing is good, the footwork is good, the confidence is good, it would’ve definitely helped.”
“I’m so glad he’s made it to the side. He batted beautifully in these two-three games he’s played in the IPL, and has looked in great touch. And let’s not forget the experience he has. The moment Shreyas Iyer was injured, you had to look in that direction.”
Rahane has been in stupendous type for the Chennai Super Kings in IPL 2023, aggregating 224 runs in six innings with a median of 44.8 and a strike price of 189.3. Shastri hopes that Rahane’s expertise and up to date performances will turn out to be useful within the WTC last, which will likely be held from June 7-11 at The Oval in London.
“People think he’s just played three IPL games and that’s why he’s in the side. They must have been on holiday for six months when he was playing first-class cricket. They must’ve been somewhere in the jungle where there’s no contact with anyone in the world. When you go six months into a holiday, you miss those 600 runs,” he concluded.
