"Don't Think...": Ajinkya Rahane On His Finger Injury As Crucial Day Looms For India At WTC Final

10.06.2023 - 09:19 sports.ndtv.com

Battling a finger injury, India's saviour Ajinkya Rahane on Friday dispelled doubts about his involvement with the bat in his team's second innings of the World Test Championship final against Australia in London.

Rahane, who made a memorable 89 in his comeback Test after 18 months, hoped that the finger injury he sustained on Thursday would not affect his batting in the second innings. "Don't think it will affect (my) batting (in India's second innings)," Rahane told the broadcaster at the end of the third day's play.

Rahane faced 129 balls and struck 11 fours and a six during his stay in the middle. His 109-run partnership for the seventh wicket with Shardul Thakur (51 off 109) kept India in the game but Australia still managed to take a massive 173-run first-innings lead.

At stumps, Australia extended their lead to 296 runs by reaching 123 for four in 44 overs in their second innings. "Happy with the way I batted.

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Sourav Ganguly finds it extremely baffling that Ajinkya Rahane has been handed Test vice captaincy after spending nearly 18 months on the sidelines as the former India skipper demanded "consistency and continuity" in the selection process. Rahane, 35, was out of favour for one-and-a-half years but was India's best batter in the World Test Championship final against Australia, with scores of 89 and 46 at the Oval, earlier this month.

Not Ajinkya Rahane, Ex India Star Wanted This Veteran As Vice-captain For WI Tests

After the debacle in the World Test Championship final against Australia, Team India is all set to face West Indies in an all-format tour. The WTC final, which was played at The Oval, saw a comeback of veteran batter Ajinkya Rahane to the Test team, who had last played for India in 2022. Few months ago, Rahane was not even in consideration for India's Test squad but after a successful IPL stint with the Chennai Super Kings, he found himself a place in the WTC final and emerged as India's leading run-scorer in the match. To add a cherry on the cake, the right-handed batter also got back his position as the vice-captain for the Test series against West Indies.

On Ajinkya Rahane's Selection As Vice-Captain, Sunil Gavaskar's "Missed Opportunity" Retort

Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar has questioned the selectors over the appointment of Ajinkya Rahane as vice-captain of the Test team for the upcoming tour of West Indies. The BCCI announced Team India's squads for the Test and ODI series against the West Indies, starting next month. While Rohit Sharma will lead the team in both formats, Rahane's appointment as vice-captain has raised several eyebrows. Rahane was recalled to the side for the WTC Final against Australia, and was India's top performer with the bat in the match.

Ajinkya Rahane To Play For Leicestershire After West Indies Tour: Report

Senior India batter Ajinkya Rahane will be represent English county side Leicestershire in division two, after finishing his two-Test assignment with Indian team against the West Indies. Rahane, a former India captain, recently made a successful comeback to the Indian team during the World Test Championship final against Australia earlier this month. Rahane had inked the deal with Leicestershire back in January and was supposed to play eight first class games and also the entire Royal London Cup (domestic 50 over competition) between June to September, after the completion of his IPL stint with Chennai Super Kings.

"Had They Picked Ajinkya Rahane...": Ambati Rayudu On 2019 World Cup Snub Fiasco - Report

The 2019 ODI World Cup saw the Board of Control for Cricket in India selection committee draw plenty of criticism after Ambati Rayudu was snubbed for a spot in the team, in favour of '3D player' Vijay Shankar. Rayudu's reaction on social media to the news added fuel to the fire, and the veteran batter never played for India again. After bringing an end to his cricketing career, Rayudu has finally opened up on the controversy, confirming that he had nothing personal against Shankar but couldn't understand the logic behind his selection as he was a player who batted at No. 6 or No. 7 position, and not No. 4.

ICC Test Rankings: Ajinkya Rahane Makes Big Gains, R Ashwin Remains No. 1 Bowler

India's comeback man Ajinkya Rahane on Wednesday climbed to the 37th position while Shardul Thakur rose to 94th among batters, even as Ravichandran Ashwin maintained his top spot among Test bowlers despite not featuring in the World Test Championship final. In a rare achievement, batters from Australia occupy the top three places in the rankings as Steve Smith and Travis Head joined top-ranked Marnus Labuschagne following their centuries in the WTC final win against India at The Oval.