Experienced Indian cricket player, Ajinkya Rahane, wants his spot on the national team back to finish 100 tests. Rahane’s main aim right now is winning the Ranji Trophy title for Mumbai.
A break of over a year from the team ended in the World Test Championship final against Australia in June 2023. Rahane showed promise in this final. But he didn’t perform well during the following tour in the West Indies and lost his spot.
The 35-year-old spoke to journalists after a Ranji Trophy game against Andhra Pradesh (via Cricbuzz):
“My goal is to secure both the Ranji Trophy and the bigger objective of playing in 100 Test matches. I’m focused on performing well for Mumbai and taking each game one step at a time.”
Ajinkya Rahane
The Maharashtra-born cricketer perished for a golden duck in his lone innings, despite his team’s easy 10-wicket victory. The Mumbai skipper has 5077 runs in 85 Tests, but last hit a century in December 2020.
“The challenge is to be consistent” – Ajinkya Rahane
Rahane addressed his choice to invite Andhra Pradesh to bat again after knocking them out for 184 in response to their 395, claiming that the bowlers only needed a little more energy. He added:
“The decision was instinctive as such opportunities are very rare. If you read the situation and sniff the opportunity for seven points…it will be helpful for you in future as you don’t know how the wicket will be, the conditions will be, teams form in the upcoming matches…you never know what will happen.”
“So yesterday, I felt like if the bowlers will push themselves a bit and if we take two-three early wickets then it will become easier for us. It’s been a very good start for us this season. The challenge is to be consistent because when you want to win the Ranji Trophy, it is all about being consistent throughout the period of time.”
Ajinkya Rahane
Andhra Pradesh were bundled out for 244 runs in their second innings, while Mumbai reached the 34-run mark without losing a wicket. Rahane has been excluded from India’s team for the first two of the five Tests against England, which begin on January 25.