Ajinkya Rahane replaced the clock with a fabulous century of the Ranji Trophy encounter between Mumbai and Chhattisgarh in the Sharad Pawar Cricket Academy in BKC on Sunday, October 26. Rahane, having early in collapsed, recovered the innings, with a calm although aggressive series of strokes, at the cost of 159 out of 303 balls, with 21 fours. His hardworking made Mumbai regain its shaky ground and drive through the 350-run mark before being forced out by Aditya Sarwate. Mumbai dominated the game firmly as at the end of Day 2, they were 406/8 after 130 overs.
The veteran batter was very persistent and tolerant during his innings and served to calm the young players by his serene demeanor. He played with a fluent pocket shot and was able to take astute shots that reminded the fans of his glory days in international cricket. The knock by Rahane kept Mumbai in a dominant situation in the competition and it was a great platform to base on the total of the team in the first innings.
Speaking after the day’s play, Rahane reflected on his exclusion from the Indian Test team since the 2023 West Indies tour. The 37-year-old said he still believes he could have made a difference in the 2024–25 Border-Gavaskar series. Dismissing any talk about age, Rahane mentioned Australian great Michael Hussey, who made his Test debut at 30, saying experience and form matter more than age in cricket.
“It’s not about the age. It’s about the intent. It’s about the passion for the red ball and the hard work you put in the middle. So I don’t believe in that completely. In Australia, you see, Michael Hussey made his debut 30s. Still he made runs. Experience matters in red ball cricket. I thought, personally, the Indian team needed me in Australia,” 37-year-old Rahane said after scoring his 42 first class hundred.
Rahane also believes that selectors should look beyond performances and assess a player’s intent and passion for playing red-ball cricket.
“After 34-35 players are old. Players are always looking to do well. Players are always looking to give their best. And if someone is really passionate about playing red-ball cricket. I think selectors should look into it. Because they come and watch the game. Every time it’s not about the performance. It’s about the intent and the passion and how you play with the red ball.”
Ajinkya Rahane
Rahane also expressed disappointment with the selectors’ lack of communication during his absence from India’s Test setup. He underlined that the Indian team required his skills in Australia during the Test series.
“I thought an experienced player like me should get more chances. And there was no communication. I can focus on only the controllable things which I am doing right now. But as I said, the Indian team needed me in Australia and I was fully ready for it.”
Ajinkya Rahane
Ajinkya Rahane emphasizes importance of experience amid youth focus in Indian cricket
Rahane cited Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli as prime examples of success in ODI matches against Australia. Rohit won the Player of the Series award, while Kohli played a courageous half-century in the third ODI. The right-hand batter believes a team performs best when it balances youth with experience.
“When you have guys like Rohit and Virat, who have won so many matches for India especially in white ball cricket, you need that experience in the team. You cannot go with all newcomers, or the young ones in the team. Young blood is important, but if you have experience, the team will do well. It is especially the case in red ball cricket. I was really happy to see Rohit getting that 100.”
Ajinkya Rahane
Some of Rahane’s critics questioned his status on the Mumbai team. The experienced hitter silenced his critics with an outstanding performance with the bat against a formidable bowling attack.
“There are many unwanted people. When they don’t know about the game, they still talk about a player who has been playing consistently with a good attitude and intensity. I always want to do well for Mumbai. They don’t know what it takes. As an international cricketer who has played for so many years, I think something clicked for me. But the support of my family and kids has been massive. They’ve always been with me. They said, ‘Daddy, you can do it’.”
Ajinkya Rahane
