It’s been quite the tale of Ajinkya Rahane. After being dropped from the Indian Test side following the South Africa series last year. He had no place in the overall scheme of things. For the first time in ten years, he was excluded from the BCCI Central Contracts that were announced last month. He didn’t even make the starting XI for the Chennai Super Kings in IPL 2023.
However, beginning the first week of April, everything began to change. He played back-to-back impact innings against RCB and RR to show that his six-hitting prowess on his IPL comeback against the Mumbai Indians was not an aberration. Rahane had serious intentions.
And, Ajinkya Rahane is in a good headspace and prepared to make a comeback for a crucial game. The universe began to cooperate. India needed an experienced batter for the World Test Championship final match against Australia in English conditions due to Shreyas Iyer’s back injury and Rishabh Pant’s absence. Rahane was the best because he had already demonstrated his hunger in the Ranji Trophy.
Most probably they would have asked Dhoni about if Rahane is in good mental space and ready for a comeback for an important game. https://t.co/wXoGsAibTT
— Vibhor (@dhotedhulwate) April 27, 2023
Ajinkya Rahane has been added to WTC Final squad
Rahane’s coach Pravin Amre noticed the irony in the fact that Rahane began his international cricket career in a T20 match against England in 2011 and has come back thanks to his performance in the T20 competition.
“We simply reminded him of the 39-ball 61 he scored at Old Trafford in August 2011 to illustrate how he entered the international arena through T20. The fact that his T20 performance has aided in his comeback is a coincidence.”
“No one anticipated his return when he was dropped but hard work always pays off. His Ranji season was outstanding and he scored two hundred. People are amazed by the new Ajinkya we are seeing. He is hitting the ball for such a long distance while still making proper cricketing shots, Amre told Hindustan Times.”
He has benefited from his relationship with batting coach Mike Hussey in addition to the calming effect of MS Dhoni. For Rahane, maintaining mental clarity while batting is essential.
“When your game is in a good spot, it appears. His strokes were executed with exceptional precision. It’s enabling him to easily jump over the fence. The evidence is a 199 strike rate.”
“He has regained his timing, which is the foundation of his game, according to Amre. Even Dhoni has talked about his method. People incorrectly assert that technique is unimportant in T20 matches. Being a coach, we have always stressed technique because it is so important in Twenty20”.
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