Ajinkya Rahane demands answers from Rohit Sharma over his Test snub after Ranji heroics
Published - 12 Feb 2025, 07:04 PM | Updated - 12 Feb 2025, 07:05 PM
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Ajinkya Rahane has made a bold statement after his match-winning century in the Ranji Trophy 2024-25 quarter-finals against Haryana. Ajinkya Rahane-led Mumbai crushed Haryana by 152 runs in Kolkata to qualify for the Ranji Trophy 2024-25 semifinal against Vidarbha on February 17.
Rahane has been doing really well with the bat this season, but he isn’t dwelling on the past having been sidelined from India’s Test squad since the West Indies tour in 2023. However, after his strong performances in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and Ranji Trophy, Rahane reminded everyone of his brilliant performance in the 2023 WTC final to indirectly question his omission.
Ajinkya Rahane raises questions about his Test snub
The right-handed batter has been out of the Indian cricket team for nearly 18 months. The experienced Mumbai batter was India's top scorer in the 2023 WTC final against Australia with 135 runs, but they lost the match by 209 runs at The Oval.
Later, Rahane was named India's vice-captain for the West Indies tour. But after a couple of poor batting shows, the seasoned batter was dropped from the Indian cricket team, and he hasn’t played a Test since. However, Rahane stressed that selection isn’t in his hands, but his batting speaks for itself.
Ajinkya Rahane was quoted as saying by The Indian Express, “I am not thinking about the future at all. But I do know that I am batting well. I had a good performance in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. This Ranji Trophy season is going well too. I batted nicely in the World Test Championship final in 2023 too. After that, I got dropped. Being selected or not selected is another matter and the job of the selectors. But I thought I played well in that WTC final.”
I feel I have a lot of cricket left in me: Ajinkya Rahane
The Mumbai batter has been in great form with the bat this year, finishing as the highest run-scorer in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy with 469 runs at an impressive strike rate of 164.56. The experienced right-hander, who played 85 Tests for India and scored 5077 runs, has also been in fine touch in the Ranji Trophy, scoring 437 runs at an average close to 40 so far.
The former Indian vice-captain said that he still has plenty to offer to the game, and he is focusing on giving his best in every match. Rahane also stressed that his passion, hunger, and determination remain as strong as ever.
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Rahane further noted, “In all this, I feel I have a lot of cricket left in me. That’s why I am playing domestic cricket consistently. I just have one goal right now, and that is to play cricket with a positive mindset, and whatever happens after that, happens.
Domestic cricket has given me everything. I still have that jazba (passion) within me. Before any match, I still have that desire and hunger that I possessed earlier. I don’t know about the future, but I do know I am far from done. That’s why I have been giving my 100% in domestic cricket.”
Ajinkya Rahane says owners have not chatted about KKR captaincy with him at all
In the end, Rahane revealed that there has been no discussion about him leading KKR. He stated that if any talks had happened, the media would have known first, and he is ready for whatever comes his way.
