In 2021, he led India to a historic Test series victory in Australia before being benched in 2022. He is included in the team this year for the World Test Championship final.
Being Ajinkya Rahane is difficult.
If Test No. 1 Shreyas Iyer, who has already established his credentials, had been selected, the Indian batter would likely not have been recalled. 5 – had not been hurt. Rahane, who is making his side debut after an absence of 18 months, is likely to face intense pressure to make a statement because there won't be another opportunity. .
Rahane was cut from the Test team following India's series loss in South Africa in 2022. When the 82-Test veteran walks out to bat at The Oval on June 7, he will want to take a new guard at the crease.
"Now that I've been away for 18 to 19 months, good or bad, I don't want to dwell on the past. I simply want to start over and carry on doing what I've been doing, Rahane told BCCI. TV.
"I want to bat with the same attitude and intent as I did in the Ranji Trophy and Indian Premier League (IPL) before coming here. Whether it is T20 or Tests, I would prefer not to think about the format. The more I keep things simple the better it is for me, he said, explaining that the way he is currently batting, he doesn't want to complicate things.
Rahane's time was likely up in the eyes of many. He returned to domestic cricket, however, and finished with 634 runs from seven matches at an average of 57 points per game to become Mumbai's top scorer in the Ranji Trophy 2022–23 season.
Rahane's 61 off 27 in Chennai Super Kings' (CSK) match against Mumbai Indians (MI) made the difference for him in this IPL season, too. The selectors chose him for the WTC final against Australia after that knock and others that followed it generated enough buzz.
Rahane was not in their "initial thoughts," according to CSK coach Stephen Fleming, but his performance and attacking stroke play persuaded the team management to reconsider. He became a crucial member of the top order and contributed significantly to CSK's fourth-straight championship victory.
With 326 runs from 14 games and a strike rate of 172.48, Rahane finished the IPL 2023.
What actually changed for Rahane, then? "We got rid of the reputation of being the guy you bat through or around," he said. I believe that perhaps that weighed on his head a little bit too heavily and prevented him from being the player that he can be, Fleming told the media.
Fleming likely has it right. with the No. 5, Rahane was never allowed to bat freely because he had to carry an extra burden of an entire innings. The best examples of his outstanding batting under challenging circumstances would be his hundreds at Lord's (2014) and Melbourne (2020).
In the lead-up to the Test, debate continues over whether Rahane should start ahead of Suryakumar Yadav, another batter in form. Opinions were split when Rahane was called up for the WTC final. Rahane may benefit from his previous experience playing in English-speaking environments, though.
And a batsman like Rahane can stabilize the middle order with the Australian bowling lineup of Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, and the cunning Nathan Lyon.
Rahane is unassuming by nature, but when confronted with a challenge, she displays a cool aggression that manifests in her actions rather than her words.
Rahane, who became a black belt in judo at the age of 14, recalled how, in one of his first competitive fights, he decided to counter-attack rather than be on guard when the opponent had him on the back foot. This move helped him win.
During India's tour of Australia in 2020–2021, Rahane's tenacity was on display.
At Adelaide, India's first Test was forgettable. They were bowled out for 36 in the second innings, which was a record-low performance for them in the longer format. A few important players were recovering from injuries, and India's captain Virat Kohli had returned home. Winning the series seemed impossible with three Tests left to play.
With India determined to fight back and Australia determined not to give an inch, what happened next has since become a glorious chapter in cricket history.
India required a strong leader to take the reins and get them back in the game. Rahane accomplished this exact feat at Melbourne by slamming a brilliant century under cloudy skies with Australian seamers swarming in. India's fortunes changed as a result, and against all odds, they went on to win the series.
Starting over can be discouraging after reaching such impressive levels of success. Rahane's chance to compete in the WTC final is enormous, comparable to his professional debut. The batter's biggest challenge will be managing expectations, which can be too much to bear when making a comeback in a crucial game.
However, some athletes experienced a second wind and went on to have lengthy careers. Can Rahane make it matter, that is the question.
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