India's Ajinkya Rahane who is making a Test comeback after a year hushed his critics with a sturdy 89 against Australia on Day 3 of the World Test Championship final.
After a collapse on Day 2, the Mumbai batter led the charge and made a strong 100-run stand with Shardul Thakur that helped the drowning Indian side make a return in the marquee Test.
After his stunning knock on Day 3, former cricketer Harbhajan Singh questioned him if there was an influence of his Indian Premier League side Chennai Super Kings, in that knock, to which Rahane gave an affirmative response.
'Of course I enjoyed my stay at CSK', he said.
In IPL 2023, Ajinkya Rahane who is considered only a Test batter emerged as CSK's 4th highest run scorer with 326 runs in 11 innings.
Ravi Shastri too heaped praise on the Test veteran and acknowledged his patience.
Calling IPL 2023 a sort of liberation for Rahane, the former Indian coach said, 'He played domestic cricket didn't give up and waited for his opportunity. There are no cobwebs in his mind all those have been cleared. He comes out and plays his natural game'