Ajinkya Rahane made a return to the Test squad for the WTC Final 2023 after almost 17 months. Rahane has been included in the squad because of his thunderous form in the domestic circuit, as well as in the ongoing IPL season.
However, most fans and few veterans have been left enraged at Ajinkya Rahane’s return to the Indian team. Harbhajan Singh though has been left thoroughly impressed at the call to get back the experienced star but took an indirect ‘Rahane’, but took a dig at the selectors for dropping Suryakumar Yadav.
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“He has captained India in so many matches and is a brilliant player a well. He has a great technique. I feel the decision has been taken keeping in mind his present form and hence has been recalled because Shreyas Iyer is still not part of the team. And with Iyer absent, it serves an opportunity to Rahane and it’s a big match. He is a big player as well and I hope he gives that big performance to justify the selection. I support this selection 100 per cent and I feel it is a great decision. There was actually no other solution other than this,” Harbhajan said.
The legendary Indian spinner however took a dig at the selection committee, expressing his disappointment over dropping Suryakumar Yadav.
“The one person who has missed this tour is Suryakumar Yadav. He should have been part of the team. Maybe instead of carrying three spinners, they could have carried an extra batter. Because you need that one batsman in the middle order who can destroy the opposition and only Suryakumar could have done that. He first got him into the Test team because he was in great form. Yes he has had a rough patch of 4-5 matches but if IPL is the criteria for selection for other players then even he should have been picked, even he has found that rhythm,” he said.
“When Gilchrist used to come in the middle for Australia, at No.6-7, he would destroy the bowlers. So you need a batter in the line-up who can play baseball cricket like Rishabh Pant. India will miss Suryakumar during this tour,” he added