Former India captain Ajinkya Rahane may no longer be in contention for a spot in the national Test team, as has been repeatedly hinted by the BCCI’s selection committee. However, this hasn’t deterred the experienced batter from achieving his 40th first-class century in the County Championship Division Two match for Leicestershire against Glamorgan.
Rahane, who has represented India in 85 Tests and 90 ODIs, played a determined innings, scoring 102 off 192 balls with 13 boundaries and a six. He also formed a crucial 183-run partnership with Australian Peter Handscomb on the final day, helping Leicestershire avoid defeat at the Sofia Gardens.
At the close of play on Day 3, Rahane was unbeaten on 47, with Handscomb on 33 not out, as Leicestershire trailed by 155 runs. Bad light halted play with 21.2 overs remaining. Earlier, Glamorgan had declared at 550 for 9, securing a 299-run lead after Colin Ingram’s career-best 257.
Despite being dropped by Glamorgan leg-spinner Mason Crane, the Indo-Australian duo of Rahane and Handscomb put on a brilliant 150-plus run stand, ensuring a draw for Leicestershire on the final day.
This century marks Rahane’s first in red-ball cricket in nearly 19 months, with his last three-figure score coming in the Ranji Trophy in January 2023 against Assam.
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Rahane, who also performed well for Leicestershire in the One-Day Cup with 378 runs and four fifties in 10 matches, will likely gain confidence from this century as he prepares for the upcoming domestic season with Mumbai in the Ranji Trophy next month.
Is Rahane’s time with the Indian team over?
The Indian team management, now including new head coach Gautam Gambhir, has signaled a desire to move on from senior middle-order batters like Cheteshwar Pujara and Rahane to provide more opportunities for younger players. Recently, neither veteran was named for the Duleep Trophy, which starts later this week, suggesting that the selectors and Gambhir are unlikely to consider them for India’s upcoming three Tests—two at home against Bangladesh and New Zealand, and the crucial five-match Border-Gavaskar series in Australia.