Following his dismissal from India's Test team in 2023, Ajinkya Rahane, who is renowned for his flawless timing and wide variety of shots, has been dominating domestic cricket. He scored his 41st first-class century while leading Mumbai to a 152-run victory over Haryana in the most recent Ranji Trophy quarterfinal.

In the pivotal match, Mumbai prevailed thanks to an outstanding 108 runs from the right-handed batter.
Rahane's last appearance for India was during the Port-of-Spain Test against the West Indies in July 2023, where he had previously shown promise with scores of 89 and 46 in the World Test Championship (WTC) final against Australia. Reflecting on his exclusion, Rahane stated, “I did well in the last three years. When I came to the WTC final, I did very well there. And after that, I was out of the team.”

Despite his disappointment, he understands that selection is in the hands of the selectors. “But again, for me, it’s about being in the moment and looking to keep improving my game... Keep growing as a cricketer and then give my best all the time,” he added.

In addition to his Ranji success, Rahane has excelled in the T20 format, finishing as the top run-scorer in this season’s Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy with 469 runs. With 85 Test, 90 ODI, and 20 T20I appearances under his belt, Rahane’s recent performances could be a significant factor in reviving his Test career and re-establishing his place in the national squad.