Ajinkya Rahane feels India needed him against Australia in BGT 2024/25

Overview

• Ajinkya Rahane scored 159 in the second leg of the Ranji Trophy 2025/26 match against Chhattisgarh and sent a strong message to the Indian selectors
• Following his knock, Rahane felt that some people didn't know how cricket works and criticized his batting
• The former Indian skipper felt the Indian team needed him during the BGT 2024/25 in Australia, and he was ready

Ajinkya Rahane scored 159 in the second leg of the Ranji Trophy 2025/26 match against Chhattisgarh and sent a strong message to the Indian selectors. Following his knock, Rahane felt that some people didn't know how cricket works and criticized his batting.

"Something clicked for me. I know how good a player I am, so I don't like to focus on what’s going on outside. Many unwanted people don't know about the game, but they still talk about a player who has been playing consistently with a good attitude and good intensity," Rahane said.

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"It's not about the age, it's about the intent," - Ajinkya Rahane

The star player later spoke about his omission from the Test side even after performing in the WTC Final 2023. The 37-year-old claimed that he's doing what is in his control. While he agreed that selecting him or not is totally the call of the selection committee, Rahane felt the Indian team needed him during the BGT 2024/25 in Australia, and he was ready.

"I still enjoy my game. I can focus on the controllable, which I'm doing right now. Whether they select me or not, that's their call, but I personally feel that the Indian team needed me in Australia, and I was fully ready for it," Rahane added in his statement.

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"Age is just a number. If a player has the experience and is still playing domestic cricket and giving his best, the selectors should consider him. It’s not about the age. It's about the intent. It's about the passion for red-ball cricket and the hard work that you put in the middle. That's what matters," Rahane concluded.