Former Indian Cricket Captain Ajinkya Rahane, recently made headlines by scoring his first red-ball century in nearly 19 months. A red-ball century basically means scoring 100 or more runs in a single innings during a Test match or first-class cricket game, where a red ball is used.
Achieving a century in these longer formats shows a player’s skill and patience over an extended period of play. This significant achievement occurred during a County Championship Division Two match for Leicestershire against Glamorgan, where he scored 102 runs off 192 balls.
This innings marked Rahane’s 40th first-class century and his first since January 2023, when he last reached three figures in a Ranji Trophy match against Assam. Rahane’s century comes at a time when he has been largely overlooked by the Indian selectors, particularly under the current leadership of Ajit Agarkar and Gautam Gambhir.
Both have indicated a desire to transition away from veteran players like Rahane and Cheteshwar Pujara to make room for younger talent in the national team. This shift has been underscored by their omission from the upcoming Duleep Trophy, a significant domestic tournament, which further suggests that their chances of returning to the Test squad are slim.
Despite being sidelined from the national team since July 2023, his performance in the County Championship has been commendable. He previously accumulated 378 runs in the One-Day Cup for Leicestershire, including four fifties in ten matches, showcasing his ongoing ability to contribute at a high level.
Rahane’s Match Highlights
Ajinkya Rahane has played many important matches and has achieved a lot in his career. Here are some of his key statistics:
Format | Matches | Innings | Runs | Highest Score | Average | 100s | 50s |
Test | 82 | 150 | 4,500 | 115 | 42.5 | 1 | 12 |
ODI | 90 | 82 | 3,000 | 100 | 35 | 1 | 20 |
T20I | 50 | 37 | 1,500 | 79 | 25 | 0 | 10 |
IPL | 185 | 171 | 4,642 | 105* | 30.14 | 2 | 30 |
He made his Test debut in 2013 and quickly became a reliable player for Indian Cricket, especially in tough matches. One of his most memorable moments was leading India to victory in Australia during the 2020-21 series.
He scored a brilliant century in Melbourne, which helped his team bounce back after a tough loss. Over the years, Rahane has played many great innings. He has scored centuries in important matches, including at Lord’s, where he helped India win after nearly 30 years.
His ability to perform under pressure makes him a valuable player. Even in the IPL, he has shown his skills by scoring over 500 runs in two seasons. Rahane’s journey is filled with hard work and dedication, making him a true asset to Indian cricket.
Will Ajinkya Rahane Return to the Indian National Team?
Born on June 6, 1988, Ajinkya Rahane is now 36 years old. His age plays a significant role in whether he will return to the Indian national cricket team. Rahane has had a remarkable career, scoring over 13,000 runs in first-class cricket at an average of 45.76. He has been a key player in many important matches, especially during the 2020-21 series in Australia, where he captained the team to victory.
He was recently not selected for the Duleep Trophy 2024, which suggests he may not be in the selectors’ plans. Although he scored a century in the County Championship for Leicestershire, his chances of making a comeback seem slim. The younger players, like Shubman Gill and Sarfaraz Khan, are stepping up and could take his place in the team.
While Rahane has shown he still has the talent, age and competition from younger players make it tough for him to return. His experience is valuable, but the selectors may prefer to invest in younger talent for the future.