If one scrolls down the players list of World Test Championship, he/she will find a name almost a year or two later. It is Ajinkya Rahane, who is on the verge to make a comeback. While asked, Ravi Shastri, the former Indian headcoach expressed his view about the inclusion of former Indian Vice Captain Ajinkya Rahane.
However, critics and fans have been hovering on the fact that Rahane got his chance because of his IPL performance. Well, fans cannot be questioned much if they fear so. India doesn’t hold great reacords in the hand of those who got selected just because of their IPL performances. But Shastri turned his finger into a direction, which everyone ignored- the domestic. Rahane had a stellar domestic season which Shastri wants to highlight the most, including the formers experiences.
Moreover Ravi Shastri feels that Rahane has been an worthy inclusion in the team. After app, Shreyas Iyer, who almost had sealed is position in the test team at least was suffering from a lower back injury. Though he recently had successful operation in London, he arrival in the team will not happen before the World Cup. Henceforth, Ajinkya Rahane has has to the only option left for selectors.
While speaking about the selectors including Rahane, Shastri said that he is happy with it. He also questioned the critics if they were hibernating throughout or not!
Ravi Shastri praises Ajinkya as a stand in captain in 2020-21 BG trophy
Shastri told in the ESPN Cricinfo,
“I’m so glad he’s made it to the side. He batted beautifully in these two-three games he’s played in the IPL, has looked in great touch. And let’s not forget the experience he has. The moment Shreyas Iyer was injured, you had to look in that direction.”
While speaking about the experience Rahane holds, Shastri added,
“Absolutely, it’s a one-off big game, like the Super Bowl, and you need your experienced player. Don’t forget just two-and-a-half years ago, the man won a Test series in Australia. He was the captain when Virat went (on paternity leave) and did a sterling job.”
People forget that hundred at the MCG, the way Rahane played: Rahane
Taking a swipe at the critics, Shastri said, “People think he’s just played three IPL games and that’s why he’s in the side. They must have been on holiday for six months when he was playing first-class cricket. They must’ve been somewhere in the jungle where there’s no contact with anyone in the world. When you go six months into a holiday, you miss those 600 runs.”
Shastri compared Rahane’s return to Pujara’s. After the selectors dropped Pujara from the national team, he returned to county cricket scoring a lot of runs. Shastri said,
“People forget that hundred at the MCG, the way he (Rahane) played, and the fact that he’s gone back to the grind. You saw what it did with Pujara, he went back to the grind playing domestic cricket, playing county cricket, just got the number of runs under his belt, then came back into Test cricket and performed.
“It’s the same thing with Rahane, let’s hope that experience comes handy.”
For more updates, follow https://twitter.com/Crickdom7/
