Ajinkya Rahane Attacks Indian Selectors After Being Dropped Post WTC 2023 Final

While Ajinkya Rahane hasn't played Test cricket for India in nearly 18 months, the 36-year-old is now not on the Indian selectors' radar.

While the Mumbai batsman was India's leading scorer with 135 runs in the World Test Championship final against Australia at the Oval in 2023, which India lost by 209 runs, Rahane was named India's vice-captain for the West Indian trip.

The Mumbai batsman was dropped following the West Indies tour and has not appeared in a Test for India since.

I thought I did well in that WTC final: Ajinkya Rahane

Rahane scored a second-innings century against Haryana in Mumbai's Ranji Trophy quarter-final win in Kolkata, and the batsman reflected on his WTC final performance, claiming he is now batting well.

“I am not thinking about the future at all. But I do know that I am batting well. I had a good performance in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. This Ranji Trophy season is going well too. I batted nicely in the World Test Championship final in 2023 too. After that, I got dropped. Being selected or not selected is another matter and the job of the selectors. But I thought I played well in that WTC final,” Rahane told reporters after Mumbai’s win.

Rahane had scores of 8 and 3 in the two Tests against West Indies post the WTC final and did not bat during two innings during the two-Test tour.

“I have a lot of cricket left in me”- Ajinkya Rahane

Rahane scored the most runs in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy this year, totaling 469 at a strike rate of 164.56. The right-handed batsman, who has played 85 Tests for India and scored 5077 runs, has 437 runs and an average of over 40 in the Ranji Trophy this season.

“In all this, I feel I have a lot of cricket left in me. That’s why I am playing domestic cricket consistently. I just have one goal right now, and that is to play cricket with a positive mindset, and whatever happens after that, happens. Domestic cricket has given me everything.

"I still have that jazba (passion) within me. Before any match, I still have that desire and hunger that I possessed earlier. I don’t know about the future, but I do know I am far from done. That’s why I have been giving my 100% in domestic cricket,” Ajinkya Rahane told reporters.

If they’d have spoken: Ajinkya Rahane on KKR captaincy for IPL 2025

Ajinkya Rahane was let go by Chennai Super Kings before the IPL 2025 mega auction and was picked up for Rs 1.5 crore in the auction by Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). The Mumbai batsman has been in contention for the captaincy of Kolkata Knight Riders and shared his thoughts on the issue.

“They have not chatted about KKR captaincy with me at all. If they’d have spoken, you journalists would’ve known about it and you guys would’ve been the ones informing me. Until then, I’ll not bother checking my phone. I have had to see a lot of different challenges.

"I have captained before, and I have found myself in a variety of situations over the years and I know how to handle any situation in front of me. That’s why I am always ready for whatever is thrown at me,” said Rahane.

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