The senior Indian cricketer Ajinkya Rahane remains hopeful of making a return to the Indian cricket team, despite last playing for the national side in the Test series against West Indies in July 2023. At 36, he continues to lead Mumbai in the Ranji Trophy 2024-25, accumulating 437 runs across eight matches. His recent performance in the quarterfinal against Haryana, where he scored 31 and 108 runs, played a crucial role in securing a 152-run victory and a place in the semifinals.
As Mumbai prepares to face Vidarbha in the semifinals at the Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium in Nagpur, Ajinkya Rahane reaffirmed his determination to return to international cricket. He expressed his unwavering commitment to the game, stating that he still feels young, remains fit, and is passionate about competing at the highest level. He emphasised that his hunger to perform has not diminished and believes he has more cricket left in him.
Throughout his career, Ajinkya Rahane has delivered match-winning performances across formats since making his debut in 2011. However, he has often remained in the shadows of players like Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and Cheteshwar Pujara. Reflecting on this, he admitted that his focus had always been on playing cricket rather than staying in the limelight. He now understands the importance of being in the news and engaging with the media, acknowledging that people tend to think a player is out of the picture if they are not frequently talked about. Despite not having a PR team, he believes his performances on the field should speak for him.
Although he has been away from the national squad for nearly two years, Ajinkya Rahane remains firm in his goal to return. He recalled how he was dropped from the team, fought his way back with strong performances and was selected for the World Test Championship final, only to be dropped again. Understanding that his only focus should be on playing, he remains steadfast in his efforts to contribute to the Mumbai team and push for another chance at the international level.
Ajinkya Rahane firmly believes that his journey is far from over and there is still fire and passion in him. He remains dedicated to his craft, being convinced that he still has more to offer to Indian cricket and hr is determined to seize any opportunity that comes his way.
