Veteran Indian batter Ajinkya Rahane revealed that he was offered a role in the broadcasting team for the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT). Despite India’s struggles in the 0-3 home whitewash against New Zealand, the selection committee overlooked the Mumbai skipper for the Australia tour.
Rahane led Mumbai to the 2023-24 Ranji Trophy title with an outstanding individual campaign. However, as the Indian team undergoes a transition, players like Sarfaraz Khan, KL Rahul, and Rishabh Pant have primarily occupied the middle-order spots.
Since the 2021-22 South Africa tour, Ajinkya Rahane has played only three Tests. He was recalled for the 2023 WTC final after an impressive IPL and an injury crisis. The right-hander excelled against Australia at The Oval, securing his spot for the West Indies tour.
However, poor performances in the series led to his exclusion again, and he has not been considered since. While Rahane’s experience and form made a case for his inclusion in the Border-Gavaskar series, the management chose a different approach.
“Yes (it was tough). I got an offer to become an expert. It was easy and good money but within me, a person is saying I still can (play). Getting picked or not is not in my hands.”
”Down the line, I don’t want a situation where I feel that yeh expert assignment mein baad mein bhi le sakta tha. I could have given one last push,” Rahane said in an interview with the Indian Express.
“Wherever I went, people told me, ‘Ajju Bhai, you deserve a place in the team’”- Ajinkya Rahane
India’s batters struggled in Australia, with only occasional contributions from KL Rahul, Yashasvi Jaiswal, and Nitish Kumar Reddy, leading to a 1-3 series loss. Many felt experienced players like Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane could have strengthened the squad.
“Be it airport, hotel, security check, ground, county cricket, everywhere I have gone, they all said: Ajju bhai, aapko team mein hona chahiye. It feels nice. It motivates me to give it a try, at least I would have given my best in the last few years of my career,” Rahane added (as per the aforementioned source).
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