‘I’m so glad he’s made it to the side’ – Ravi Shastri on Ajinkya Rahane’s inclusion in India’s squad for WTC final

Ajinkya Rahane and Ravi Shastri. ( Photo Source : Twitter/@toisports)

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) recently announced the squad for the World Test Championship final (WTC) which will be played between India and Australia at The Oval, London from June 7.

One of the prominent names among the ones selected in the squad is veteran India batter, Ajinkya Rahane. He earned a place in the squad for his sensational performances in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) and in the Ranji Trophy 2022–23.

Former India head coach Ravi Shastri is happy that Rahane has made it to the WTC final squad. He was full of praise for the 34-year-old batter’s clinical performance for Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the ongoing IPL. 

“I’m so glad he’s made it to the side. He batted beautifully in these two-three games he’s played in the IPL, has looked in great touch. And let’s not forget the experience he has. The moment Shreyas Iyer was injured, you had to look in that direction,” Shastri told ESPNcricinfo on the Ravi & Raunak Show.

The former cricketer said that people might feel that Rahane played three IPL games and thus got a spot in the WTC final squad. He claimed that those people must have been on vacation for six months when Rahane was playing first-class cricket. The 34-year-old batter captained Mumbai in the 2022-23 Ranji Trophy season, scoring 634 runs in 11 innings, including two centuries at an average of 57.64.

“People think he’s just played three IPL games and that’s why he’s in the side. They must have been on holiday for six months when he was playing first-class cricket. They must’ve been somewhere in the jungle where there’s no contact with anyone in the world. When you go six months into a holiday, you miss those 600 runs,” the 60-year-old added.

It’s a one-off big game and you need your experienced player: Shastri

Shastri went on to say that the WTC final is a one-off game and the stage demands an experienced player. He also lauded Rahane’s captaincy during the 2020-21 Border-Gavaskar Trophy, when he led India to win the series in Australia.

“Absolutely, it’s a one-off big game, like the Super Bowl, and you need your experienced player. Don’t forget just two-and-a-half years ago, the man won a Test series in Australia. He was the captain when Virat went [on paternity leave] and did a sterling job,” Shastri said on Rahane’s inclusion.