Ajinkya Rahane Expresses Desire to Return to Test Cricket for India

Rahane's Passion for Test Cricket

Ajinkya Rahane, the former captain and experienced batsman, has openly shared his wish to continue playing Test cricket for India, a format he deeply cherishes, despite receiving 'no feedback' from the selectors.

At 37 years old, Rahane was part of the Indian squad that faced defeat in the World Test Championship 2023 final against Australia. He has been sidelined since the West Indies tour in 2023. Following that series, he was excluded from the team but has been diligently working in domestic cricket to earn his spot back.

A Strong Desire to Compete

Currently at Lord's for India's third Test against England, Rahane made a heartfelt statement after lunch on the third day, expressing his ongoing desire to play Test cricket for India.

"I still want to play Test cricket; my passion for it remains strong. My focus is on what I can control. I attempted to engage with the selectors, but unfortunately, I received no response. All I can do is continue playing. I have a love for Test cricket and the red ball; it’s my passion," Rahane conveyed to Sky Sports.

With the retirement of key players like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma from Test cricket, Rahane's chances of returning seemed slim. Despite his extensive experience in England, the selectors have opted for younger players, injecting fresh talent into the team.

Reflecting on Rahane's Test Career

Rahane is among the few Indians to have scored a century at Lord's and has experienced numerous memorable moments in Test cricket. During the 2020-21 Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia, he took over the captaincy from Virat Kohli, who had to leave the tour for personal reasons.

Under Rahane's leadership, India achieved remarkable victories in the Boxing Day Test at Melbourne and the crucial Gabba Test, culminating in a historic series win. He emerged as India's third-highest run-scorer in that series, amassing 268 runs, including a century at the MCG in front of a packed audience.

Rahane discussed his unique captaincy approach compared to Kohli's, stating, "Every captain has their own style. When I became captain, I aimed to stay true to my instincts and character, always backing my decisions."

Since his debut in 2013, Rahane has played 85 Test matches, scoring 5,077 runs at an average of 38.46, which includes 12 centuries and 16 fifties. Last season, he captained Mumbai in the Ranji Trophy, accumulating 467 runs in nine matches at an average of 35.92, featuring one century and one fifty. He led Mumbai to the semi-finals but fell short of reclaiming the title after a narrow loss to Vidarbha.