‘There was no communication’: Ajinkya Rahane’s strong message to selectors; says India needed him in Australia | Cricket News
NEW DELHI: Veteran batter Ajinkya Rahane made a compelling statement on Sunday after a commanding 159 for Mumbai against Chhattisgarh in the Ranji Trophy, voicing his disappointment over being overlooked for India’s 2024-25 tour to Australia. At 37, Rahane stressed that age should never be a criterion for national selection and highlighted how his experience could have benefited the team during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, which India lost 1-3.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!“Age is just a number. It’s about the intent. It’s about the passion for red-ball cricket and the hard work you put in the middle,” Rahane said. Citing the example of Australian great Michael Hussey, who made a late Test debut yet delivered heavily, Rahane added, “Experience matters in red-ball cricket and I thought personally the Indian team needed me in Australia — that’s my personal feeling.”
Rahane reflected on his comeback in the 2023 WTC final against Australia and his subsequent performances, underlining that he had consistently played domestic cricket to stay match-ready. “You always see selectors talk about playing domestic cricket. I’ve been playing domestic cricket for the last 4-5 seasons. Sometimes, it’s not about the runs or performance, it’s about the intent, it’s about the experience,” he explained.The Mumbai veteran voiced his hurt over the lack of communication from selectors. “After playing so much cricket for India, an experienced player like me should get more chances when you make a comeback. But there was no communication. I can focus on only the controllable things, which I am doing right now,” Rahane said.Using the recent ODI heroics of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli as proof of experience’s value, he argued, “It proves that age is just a number. At the highest level, when you have guys like Rohit and Virat who have won so many matches for India, you need that experience in the team. You cannot go with all newcomers.”Rahane also addressed off-field chatter, hitting back at critics and offering guidance to young players like Sarfaraz Khan. “Don’t get distracted, don’t get frustrated… keep your head down and focus on the controllable things. Mumbai cricket is behind him, and we know how good he is,” he said.By blending a dominant on-field performance with candid reflections, Rahane delivered a strong message to the selectors: experience, intent, and passion deserve recognition, regardless of age.
