Ajinkya Rahane, a 36-year-old batter, is looking to stage a robust comeback for Team India despite last playing for the country in the two-match Test series against the West Indies in July 2023. Rahane is presently leading Mumbai in the 2024-25 season of the Ranji Trophy and has been in fine touch, scoring 437 runs in eight matches to date. During Mumbai’s quarterfinal encounter with Haryana in Mumbai last week, he produced match-winning knocks of 31 and 108 runs, which helped the title-holders gain a commanding 152-run victory and qualify for the semifinals.
With Mumbai set to meet Vidarbha in the semifinal at Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium, Nagpur, Rahane made it known that he still nurses a keen interest to play in the Indian side again. Talking to Indian Express, Rahane expressed his uncontrollable passion and hunger for the game.
“I’m more experienced yet still feel young. I’m fit enough to compete at the top level. I am passionate and love this game. There is hunger to do well. I never get satisfied with my game and don’t take things for granted. The passion still remains in me to perform at the best level. I believe that there is cricket left in me,” Ajinkya Rahane added, conveying his confidence in himself that he has a lot to give.
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Though he played game-changing knocks for India in all three forms of the game, Rahane has always lurked in the background in front of his starrier colleagues like Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Cheteshwar Pujara. Looking back on his career, Rahane accepted that even though his mind remained on playing the game, he now realizes the need to remain in the limelight.
Ajinkya Rahane 🗣️ “People say you need to be in the news. I don’t have a PR team, my Only PR is my Cricket. I have now realised that staying in the news is important. Otherwise, people think that I’m out of the circle”. (Express)
— Vipin Tiwari (@Vipintiwari952) February 17, 2025
“I was shy all the time; now I have opened up. My target has been to play cricket and return home. Nobody explained to me that going forward, some things will be required. Today also, at times, I feel ki bus cricket khelo, ghar jao. Now I am being asked to speak up and say something about my hard work. People keep saying you have to be in the news … I don’t have a PR department; my only PR is cricket. I have now understood that it is crucial to stay in the news. Otherwise, people assume that I’m outside the circle,” said Ajinkya Rahane.
Ajinkya Rahane’s determination to be back in the national team is firm.
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“Fire and passion still remain in me. I’m currently playing Ranji Trophy, attempting to give everything to the Mumbai team. The intention is clear—to make another comeback. When I was dropped a couple of years ago, I scored runs and was selected for the World Test Championship final and then dropped again. But what can I do? To play. There is some place where I believe I can still perform for the Indian team. Cricket is still in me,” he finished, reinforcing his intent to help India win again.
