Ajinkya Rahane, a stalwart of Indian Test cricket, has voiced significant dissatisfaction with the current selection process, citing a lack of communication and questioning the rationale behind his continued absence from the team. Rahane, who recently scored a brilliant 159 in the Ranji Trophy, believes his experience and passion for Test cricket are being undervalued. He candidly admitted that he felt the Indian squad required his presence during the recently concluded Border-Gavaskar Trophy series in Australia.
Speaking after a domestic match, Rahane articulated his perspective on selection, asserting that intent and dedication to the longest format are more critical than age. “Age is just a number,” he asserted. “As a player. If you have the experience, if you are still playing domestic cricket, if you are still giving your best, I think selectors should consider (for selection). It’s not about the age. It’s about the intent. It’s about the passion for the red-ball (cricket).”
Rahane drew parallels with international examples, suggesting that experienced players can still be highly effective at later stages of their careers. “In Australia, you see Michael Hussey made his debut in his late 30s, and still he made runs. Experience matters in red-ball cricket,” he pointed out. He reiterated his personal feeling that India could have benefited from his inclusion in the Australian series, which ended in a 1-3 defeat for the visitors.
A key point of contention for Rahane is the apparent lack of dialogue from the selectors. “After playing so much of cricket for the Indian team, an experienced player like me when I got dropped, I got a sense that there is something different,” he explained. “I thought an experienced player like me should get more chances when you make a comeback. But there was no communication.”
The batsman emphasized his commitment to fulfilling selection criteria, including regular domestic participation. “You always see selectors talk about playing domestic cricket. I’ve been playing domestic cricket for the last 4-5 seasons,” he said. Rahane believes that selectors should weigh experience and passion for Test cricket heavily, suggesting that age shouldn’t be a barrier for players who remain committed and perform well.