Ajinkya Rahane’s impressive performance in domestic cricket in recent months earned him a deserved recall to the Indian Test team, after being dropped over a year ago. His outstanding numbers for Mumbai in domestic matches spoke for themselves, but it was his confidence and aggressive approach in the IPL that strongly advocated for his return to international cricket.
Rahane stood out as the only Indian batsman who impressed in the 2023 World Test Championship final against Australia, which resulted in his reinstatement as vice-captain of the Indian Test squad. This position was one he held for several years under Virat Kohli’s captaincy. Rahane mentioned that while his mindset remained unchanged, playing for the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the IPL this season gave him the freedom he hadn’t experienced in previous teams.
In a press conference ahead of the first Test match against the West Indies in Dominica, Rahane stated, “Nothing has changed for me. CSK gave me freedom. In the previous teams that I played for, I was told to anchor the innings, but CSK gave me the license to go out and attack.”
Rahane played a crucial role in CSK’s success in the 2023 IPL, utilizing his ability to take on fast bowlers effectively, making him a valuable contributor. He surprised everyone by scoring 326 runs at a remarkable strike-rate of 172, surpassing his career IPL strike-rate which usually hovers around the low 120s.
Rahane emphasized that his role had changed, but his commitment to fulfilling the given responsibilities remained constant. Besides his successful IPL campaign, Rahane had an impressive red-ball season for Mumbai. As captain, he scored 634 runs in 11 innings in the Ranji Trophy, earning him a place in the WTC final against Australia. Rahane was the highest scorer for India in the first innings of the WTC final with 89 runs, followed by 46 runs in the second innings, where he fell while attempting to take on the Australian attack amidst collapsing wickets.
While some believed that his Ranji teammate Sarfaraz Khan also deserved a call-up, Rahane’s experience and proficiency against fast bowling likely played a role in his recall. Regarding his position in the Test team as number 5 and his leadership role, Rahane stated, “I am accustomed to this role. I was the vice-captain for almost four to five years. I am genuinely happy to be back in the team and serving as vice-captain once again.”
Rahane spoke highly of Rohit Sharma’s captaincy and the developing bond between the two Mumbai batsmen. “I enjoy playing under Rohit. The WTC final was actually my first game under Rohit. He provides a lot of freedom to the players and supports them. That is a sign of a good captain.”
“Our understanding has been excellent,” added Rahane, who returned to the leadership picture due to the unavailability of KL Rahul and Jasprit Bumrah. “I am a natural stroke player, so my role has only changed. I always aim to fulfill the role assigned to me, and here as well, I will strive to fulfill the role given to me by Rohit,” concluded the batsman.
Rahane will be one of the three Mumbai batsmen in the top 5, with Yashasvi Jaiswal expected to make his debut. Jaiswal, who also had an exceptional domestic season, might find Rahane’s presence as his Mumbai captain beneficial in easing his transition into the national team. Rahane is anticipated to bat at number 5 in the two Tests against the West Indies, commencing on July 12.
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