Ajinkya Rahane To Be Axed From South Africa Tests: Reports

Ajinkya Rahane, the Test specialist for Team India for the last four to five years is likely to face the axe for the upcoming Test series against South Africa. India will be playing a two-match Test series against the Proteas on a full-fledged tour starting next month.

The Indian team is fresh from their ICC World Cup final loss against Australia on Sunday. A fresh Indian T20I squad led by Suryakumar Yadav will take on the Aussies in a three-match T20I series starting with the first T20I match in Vizag on Sunday.

After the T20I series, the focus is on the South Africa Test series which kickstarts the WTC 2023-35 cycle for the Men in Blue. Rohit Sharma has made it clear that he doesn’t mind not playing T20Is. Chief Selector Ajit Agarkar will soon be meeting Rohit Sharma to discuss the roadmap of his future in the Indian cricket team. He will turn nearly 40 by the time the next World Cup starts and thus there are talks of grooming a new captain.

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Selection Committee Wants To Groom Younger Players: BCCI Source On Ajinkya Rahane’s Test Future

Meanwhile, Ajinkya Rahane’s Test career seems all but over as he is not likely to be considered for the upcoming Test series against South Africa, as per reports in Times of India. He was recalled into the Test side for the WTC 2023 final.

However, now with Shreyas Iyer back in good form and KL Rahul proving his worth as a specialist wicket-keeper batsman in the middle-order, Rahane’s chances look bleak. The selectors are also planning to give Shubman Gill an extended run at number three in Test matches. This also makes space for someone like Ishan Kishan to open the batting in Test matches and play with an aggressive intent.

“The selection committee is very clear that it wants to groom players who will play together  for a longer period of time. With Shreyas Iyer coming back into Test reckoning and Shubman Gill batting at No. 3, there is little scope for Rahane. KL Rahul too could be considered for the Test matches as he could be a backup wicketkeeping option,” the source said, as quoted by TOI.

Rahane so far has played 85 Test matches and scored 5077 runs at an average of 38.46 and a strike rate of nearly 50. He has scored 12 hundred and 26 fifties in the format.

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