‘Iss sab ka credit Thala ko jata hai’ – Fans react as Ajinkya Rahane makes his comeback to India squad for Test Championship final
Ajinkya Rahane (Source: Twitter)
India won the four-match Border-Gavaskar Test series 2-1 against Australia after the fourth Test at the iconic Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad ended in a draw. With this victory, the Rohit Sharma-led side got qualified for the World Test Championship final. The final will be played at The Oval, Southampton from June 7 to June 11, against Australia, just after the completion of the 16th edition of the Indian Premier League.
On Tuesday, April 25, the Indian Cricket Board announced a 15-member squad for the eagerly awaited WTC 2021–23 final. After a number of outstanding performances in domestic cricket and the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023, former India vice-captain, Ajinkya Rahane returns to the team. Shardul Thakur, an all-arounder, is also chosen for the 15-man squad.
Ajinkya Rahane scored 634 runs for Mumbai in the 2022–23 Ranji Trophy
The left-arm seamer, Jaydev Unadkat has maintained his spot in the five-man pace attack that also includes Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj, and Umesh Yadav. Along with the skipper, Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill is likely to start the innings, while KL Rahul has also been picked for the team. On the other hand, Ishan Kishan, who was brought in for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, has been dropped. KS Bharat has been selected as the starting wicketkeeper-batter in spite of his disappointing performance in the four-match home series against Australia in February–March.
Ajinkya Rahane, who last represented India on their tour to South Africa in 2022, returns to the team as a result of his steady performances in the recent time. In addition, the choice to go with Rahane reflects the selectors’ desire to be conservative in the absence of Rishabh Pant and Shreyas Iyer, both of whom are injured.
Rahane slammed 634 runs for Mumbai in the 2022–23 Ranji Trophy, scoring in seven games while smashing two hundred, including a double hundred. For Chennai Super Kings in the IPL 2023, he has been in outstanding form, scoring at a strike rate of around 200. While Virat Kohli and Cheteshwar Pujara will be a part of a strong top order for India, Rahane and KL Rahul may compete for a position in the middle order.
India squad for WTC final: Rohit Sharma (Captain), Shubman Gill, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, K L Rahul, KS Bharat (wk), Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Shardul Thakur, Mohammad Shami, Mohammad Siraj, Umesh Yadav, Jaydev Unadkat.
Here’s how fans reacted to Ajinkya Rahane’s comeback to the India squad for Test Championship final:
Re-entry in a style.. pic.twitter.com/d6KzAPJVAv
— krishna (@krishna33543699) April 25, 2023
Wohooo
— Om Gupta (@omguupta18) April 25, 2023
Atleast someone will hold on to the catches in the slips.
— Sourav Dey (@travel_food_fcb) April 25, 2023
Man deserved it
— Naveen. (@naveensharma024) April 25, 2023
https://twitter.com/CruzeCibi/status/1650734555803045891
Well deserved King pic.twitter.com/w17BDYnT95
— Bakri Player (@cric_nerd2) April 25, 2023
Hardwork pays off he needs to be in Worldcup as well
— astroamitk12 (@darkknightback) April 25, 2023
— aman kharbas (@aman_kharbas) April 25, 2023
Very well deserved. There we have MSD's contribution to the WTC as well!💛
— Shahzeb Khan (@theshahzebkhan) April 25, 2023
https://twitter.com/ItsRoshan124/status/1650734300869062657
